563. Letter From President Eisenhower to Prime Minister Sarit Thanarat1
Dear Mr. Prime Minister: The recent visit of Their Majesties the King and Queen to the United States was a major milestone in the long and happy history of relations between our two countries and I believe it was extraordinarily successful. At that time I had the pleasure of a cordial conversation with His Majesty the King on international developments. The communiqué issued following this meeting indicated our mutual concern with the vital problems of preserving freedom and independence, achieving lasting peace, and establishing a world order based on international justice. We reasserted our mutual determination to work towards these goals, believing that this would contribute immensely to the progress, prosperity, and welfare of mankind.
His Majesty and I likewise noted that the staunch adherence of Thailand and the United States to the Southeast Asia Treaty Organization demonstrates a mutual determination to preserve the frontiers of the free world from aggression and to promote the peaceful objectives shared by both countries. I took this opportunity to pay tribute to the steadfast partnership of Thailand and the United States in all fields and reaffirmed to His Majesty the unwavering determination of the United States fully to honor its treaty commitments undertaken in the cause of collective security.
I wish to assure Your Excellency that the preservation of the independence and integrity of Thailand continues to be a matter of the highest concern and importance to the United States and that Thailand will have the unswerving support of the United States, as an ally and friend, in resisting both Communist aggression and subversion. I entirely agree with Your Excellency’s recent statement that we must preserve the strong bond of cordial friendship between our two countries and use our concerted efforts to meet the world crisis as we head through rough and dangerous seas toward safety and security. I consider Thailand a bulwark of free world strength in Asia, whose contribution towards mutual objectives is of such significance that we must strive together to reinforce and sustain its strength and well-being.
[Page 1154]Our continuing military and economic assistance programs to Thailand constitute firm evidence of our intentions in this respect. I am particularly pleased in this connection to be able to inform you that although our aid programs are again being decreased in many countries, defense support assistance for Thailand in fiscal year 1961 is higher than that provided in fiscal 1960 and a substantially increased level of military assistance is programmed. I know of Your Excellency’s own interest in this subject and trust that this will serve to reaffirm the importance which we attach to the continued strength and stability of Thailand.
To this end, looking to the future, the United States would be prepared to explore with the Royal Thai Government measures for advancing economic development in Thailand, combining assistance available from the United States Government with additional steps by your Government to mobilize the resources of Thailand. In this connection, I am impressed with Thailand’s favorable prospects for more rapid development and its potential ability to profit from external capital availabilities as emphasis in United States assistance programs shifts from a grant to a loan basis and as the opportunities for private investment in Thailand become increasingly well known.
It is my earnest hope that this initiative, conceived in the spirit of my conversations with His Majesty the King, will serve to illustrate the abiding importance which the United States continues to place on its friendship and cooperation with Thailand.
Sincerely,
- Source: Department of State, Central Files, 792.11/10–1360. Secret; Priority; Presidential Handling. Transmitted in telegram 660 to Bangkok, November 9, which is the source text. Telegram 660 was drafted by Swezey and Wile; cleared by Peterson and Steeves of FE, other Department of State offices, and Goodpaster in the White House; and approved by Arthur r. Day in the Executive Secretariat. For an earlier draft of the letter and Ambassador Johnson’s revisions, see Documents 555 and 556.↩
- Telegram 660 bears this typed signature. Following the text of the letter is a paragraph informing the Embassy: “The White House desires text this message not become public.” Regarding the delivery of the letter and Sarit’s response, see Document 566.↩