[This Document is the Property of His Britannic Majesty's Government, and should be
returned to the Foreign Office if not required for official use.]
.]
84
(F 8551/130/10)
To SIAM.
Cypher telegram to Sir J. Crosby (Bangkok),
Joreign Office, 29th October, 1957. 4.30 p.m.
10. 6.
AS
The French Government have decided to ban the transport of
munitions of war by railway from Indo-China into China.
His Majesty's Government have refused similarly to close the Canton-Kowloon Railway, His Majesty's Ambassador at Faris has,
on my instructions, endeavoured to persuade the French Government
to reverse their decision. Both Monsieur Léger and the Minister
for Foreign Affairs have alleged as one of the reasons for their
capitulation to Japanese veiled threats the unsatisfactory state
of Franco-Siamese relations. They have expressed the fear that
a firm attitude might lead the Japanese to "stir up trouble for
them in Siam". Unless there has been a recent change in the
situation, both political and military, I can see no justification
for such a fear.
I shall be glad of your comments by air mail.