741.92/11–2845
Memorandum of Oral Communication to the British Ambassador (Halifax)
Several weeks ago the Department agreed to defer resumption of diplomatic relations with Siam until December 1, at which time it was explained we would feel free to take such action. The Department does not consider that this Government should defer longer the resumption of diplomatic relations to which it attaches a great deal of importance. We would not wish, however, to take such action without affording the British Government opportunity to reply to the Department’s aide-mémoire of November 23 and to this aide-mémoire dated November 29. I would ask, however, most earnestly, that decision on the requests made in these aide-mémoire be hastened so that we may receive a reply within a few days.
We believe that one of the factors which may have been delaying the conclusion of the British-Siamese negotiations has been the knowledge of the Siamese Government that this Government had certain objections to the proposed agreement and has been discussing those objections with the British Government. Those objections have never been stated to the Siamese by us and they have been free to conjecture as to American views. If the British Government can see its way to meet the American points of view expressed in these two aide-mémoire, we believe that it might be helpful to the early conclusion of the negotiations and we would have no objection were Mr. Dening to inform the Siamese Mission that the American Government had offered a number of comments on the proposed Agreement and Annex; that the British Government had endeavored to meet many of these comments either by changes in the text or by assurances as to the application and intent of the provisions in question; and that, while obviously the American Government had expressed neither approval nor disapproval of the Agreement, it had informed the British Government that it had no further comments to offer on the terms of the Agreement and annex. If the British Government believes that it would be helpful so to inform the Siamese, this Government feels that, in order to explain the American position, Mr. Dening should at the same time convey to the Siamese the same assurances as to the application and intent of various terms which the British Government has given the American Government and explain the principles of the proposed tripartite agreement which the British and American Governments desire to negotiate with the Siamese.