741.92/9–2645: Telegram
The Acting Secretary of State to the Ambassador in the United Kingdom (Winant)
8550. Urtel 9988 Sep 26. Dept appreciates assurance by Sterndale Bennett that there was no intention implicate US in Brit-Siamese agreement and that further modifications to meet US views under consideration. Brit Embassy informed Dept Sep 26 that Dening himself notified Siamese that US had some objections to agreement. This eliminated Dept concern that Siamese would believe US supported agreement. US has no desire to interfere in bilateral Brit-Siamese negotiations. Yost has said nothing which might prejudice negotiations [Page 1341] and Dept has expressly instructed him74 not to convey to Siamese US views on any points or details of agreement or military annex.
Please inform Bennett of foregoing. At same time it might be well to explain that on short term conditions to settlement of war US after offering its views expressly recognized that those conditions were of Brit-Siamese concern only; but that proposed agreement is one of final war settlements and US is concerned in long range aspects of agreement such as Clause 1 of Section C and Clause 4 of Section D. For your information Dept is especially anxious that Brit meet US views on latter clause.
- Telegram 111, September 27, 6 p.m., to Colombo, not printed.↩