751G.92/238: Telegram
The Minister in Thailand (Grant) to the Secretary of State
[Received 5:30 p.m.]
68. My telegram No. 58, January 31, 3 p.m.81 The Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs in a conversation with me yesterday confirmed his statement that Thailand would ask for all of the so-called “lost territories” comprising Laos and Cambodia at the Tokyo “mediation” conference. He indicated this had been definitely agreed upon by the Council of Ministers prior to the departure of the Thai delegation. He has orally indicated that Thailand, however, might agree to take less territory.
I seized the occasion to say to the Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs informally that as the result of recent developments it seemed to me that Thailand, a small country, was on dangerous ground, that before the Thailandese realized it fully they might find themselves the victims of totalitarian technique which according to several years of personal observation in Europe was very subtle, very deadly and the same the world over. The Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs made no comment.
In reply to my inquiry the Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs indicated that it is probable that the Japanese Legation here may be raised to Embassy. He inquired whether my Government would follow the Japanese lead. I said that although I had no official information it was my personal opinion that it would not.
Sent to Cavite for repetition to the Department, to Chungking, to Hong Kong and to Shanghai. Shanghai please repeat to Tokyo.
- Not printed.↩