*
Telegram received from Bangkok dated
August 2nd 1941.
Very Secret.        I have just left Deputy
M.F.A. whom I found in a state of great emotion.
He delivered following message from Prime Minister.
Japanese pressure on Thailand is intense and
the sands are running out.     Japan is demanding
recognition of Manohukuo and Nanking, financial
co-operation by the Thai Government and not merely by
private banks and also 35t000 tons of rubber and sixty
or seventy per cent of total output of tin.       Ho demand
has yet been made for bases or for military agreement
but it may come at any moment. At a meeting of the
Cabinet it has been decided to resist forcibly any
attempt by Japan to violate Thai neutrality. But
the Thai Government recognize that resistance must be
very brief unless material aid is forthcoming from
Britain and from the United States. The Prixw
Minister asks for a public statement by London and
Washington that they will not allow the sovreignty and
neutrality of Thailand to be impaired, and he urges that
this should be done immediately.      He represents that
if Thailand is foroed to yield through lack of such
support noone can blame her.
Meanwhile the Thai Government are being foroed
to yield to the demand for the recognition of Manchukuo
and a statement to that effect will be issued next week.
/Tokyo
(Tokyo radio has anticipated this recognition by announcing
that it has already taken place). But the Thai
Government are definitely refusing to reoognize Nanking;
recognition could only mean diplomatic representation
of Nanking in Thailand and consequently reinforcing of
Japanese influence.
Japanese residents in Thailand are being
watched.      They number about 1,000 in addition to some
hundreds of "tourists"•
Japanese Embassy in Bangkok is on the point of
being established.       The Thai Minister London is being
instructed to represent to you the desirability of Britain
taking similar step in the interest of Thailand no less
than of ourselves.
Thai garrisons are being strengthened on the
Eastern frontier but the Prime Minister begs us urgently
to supply him with one squadron of twelve pursuit
aeroplanes.      These are needed desperately and their supply
by us would be a blow to Japanese.
The Deputy Minister stated that the Prime
Minister would see me as soon as I had a message from
you, which he hoped would be very soon.     The Deputy
Minister added that the Prime Minister was furious and
was praying that a day might come when Thailand in her
turn could "tread upon Japan".