The United States Great Britain and the Status of Thailand (Siam), 1940-1946

This paper traces the changes in the attitudes and policies of the United States towards the Southeast Asian country of Thailand during the Second World War. From a position of indifference the United States assumed an active role in the emergence of Thailand as a sovereign nation at the conclusion of the war, encouraging pro-American factions and opposing a traditional power of the area, Great Britain. The emphasis of the paper is on the different attitudes held by Britain and the United States and the efforts to reconcile them. The British expected recompense by the Thais for allying themselves with the Japanese; even so the discussions were usually within the framework of the Americans' post-war vision that placed great reliance on the free will of the Thai people. When Britain appeared to be attempting to impose its own authority over the Thais, the United States acted firmly to thwart this and insist that its own world-view prevailed, thus assuring continuing American influence in the area.