851G.014/10–1645
The French Ambassador (Bonnet) to the Secretary of State
The Ambassador of France to the United States presents his compliments to His Excellency the Secretary of State and has the honor to acknowledge receipt of the note which he was good enough to transmit [Page 1358] to him on October 4 concerning the Indochinese territories annexed by Siam in 1941.98
Mr. Henri Bonnet thanks Mr. Byrnes for the said courteous communication, which was at once brought to the knowledge of the French Government, which fully appreciated its spirit and value, and begs to inform him that, in the opinion of his Government, any suggestion that the American Government might make to the Siamese Government with a view to persuading the latter to issue instructions without delay to its representatives at Kandy to conclude with the French representatives who are now there, the necessary agreement to efface the consequences of the events of 1940–1941, would furnish a very useful contribution to the stability and tranquility of Southeast Asia, to which France, like the United States, is profoundly attached. The French Government hopes for the restoration, between France and Siam, of relations imbued with confidence and friendship. Now, it is evident that only after such an agreement can normal diplomatic relations be restored.
Accordingly, the French Government expresses in advance to the American Government all its gratitude for any steps which the latter might be good enough to contemplate taking for the purpose of facilitating the conclusion of the agreement in question.
Mr. Henri Bonnet is happy to avail himself [etc.]