Office of the Historian

741.92/10–145: Telegram

The Consul at Colombo (Oakes) to the Secretary of State

Colombo, October 1, 1945—11 p.m.
[Received October 1—9:50 p.m.]

222. Re Department’s telegram 111, September 27 to Colombo.80 From Yost. 1. I have been careful, much to Thai disappointment, not to convey to Thais US views on any points of Agreement or Military Annex. See my 575, September 26 and 587, September 28.

Both Dening and Thais emphasize harmonious course of negotiations here. Thais have been entertained socially by Supreme Allied Commander Southeast Asia and other British in cordial manner. Dening believes many of Thai comments set forth in 587 are reasonable and that London will be prepared to make concessions. He submitted comments to London September 29 and hopes to have reply within few days. It may not be too presumptuous to suggest that Department’s positive expressions of interest at psychological moment has contributed to friendly treatment of Thais by British.

In specific comment on some of points recapitulated in Department’s telegram 109, September 27 to Colombo81 Dening states:

  • C1.82 He believes some satisfactory rewording will be worked out in London.
  • D4. Thais themselves have not raised this point.
  • Military Annex use [one] three. Clause originally drafted before end hostilities with view to facilitating Thai military action against Japs and presumably should be modified now. British Military Mission is now attached to Thai Army, Bangkok, to further cooperation of latter in disarmament and internment of Japs.
  • 15 and 16. Dening has made it clear to Thais UK does not desire rice for own exclusive use but any rice contributed will be distributed accordance with Combined Board allocations.

2.
Present understanding here is that immediately after conclusion Anglo-Thai agreement Bird,83 now at Kandy, will proceed to Bangkok as Political Advisor to British Commanding General. When diplomatic relations are resumed Bird will become Consul General and a diplomatic officer will be sent in to assume charge of Legation.
3.
Clarac84 has presented note to Thais stating that France, “considering itself in a state of hostility with Siam”, is ready to negotiate the reestablishment of normal relations on the basis of a return to the [Page 1348] conditions of June 1940. Clarac hopes Thai delegation will be authorized to negotiate now in Kandy and believes his government will be willing adopt any changes made in British draft as a result of Anglo-Thai negotiations.

In this connection Thais have asked that ref to Indo-China be dropped from paragraph C1 of Anglo-Thai agreement but Dening believes that if territories are to be listed Indo-China must be included. [Yost.]

Oakes
  1. Not printed; but see telegram 8550, September 27, 6 p.m., to London, p. 1340.↩
  2. Not printed; it summarized the Department’s aide-mémoire of September 26 to the British Embassy, p. 1336.↩
  3. This and similar references are to the Heads of Agreement and Military Annex handed by Sir George Sansom to Mr. Ballantine on September 10, p. 1316.↩
  4. Hugh Rudolph Bird, British Foreign Service Officer.↩
  5. Achille-Marie Clarac, French Foreign Service Officer serving as Diplomatic Counselor to the French High Commissioner for Indochina.↩