711.90/59: Telegram
The Minister in Thailand (Grant) to the Secretary of State
[Received October 20—10:23 a.m.]
133. Referring to the Department’s telegram 66, October 16, 7 p.m. I presented today to the Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs copies of the several statements of the Secretary mentioned therein in regard to the policy of the United States Government in East Asia. The Deputy Minister made no comment other than to point out that the statements make no specific reference to Thailand. This remark confirms me in the opinion which was indicated in my telegram 117, October 12, 3 p.m. I am convinced that a specific statement relating to Thailand’s position from either the President to the Prime Minister or from the Secretary to the Prime Minister as Minister of Foreign Affairs would be helpful at this particular time when Thailand seems to be wavering between going along with old friends or joining up with the Japanese-Axis group. There is a strange feeling here that the United States Government is unsympathetic and unfriendly to Thailand as the result of its policy advocating the strict maintenance of the status quo and abstention from force and recent embargoes on airplanes purchased by Thailand which is not the case, of course. Only a specific statement relating to Thailand addressed to the Thai government can be helpful in correcting this impression, in my judgment. I hope my suggestion will be given further consideration.