05Non-Aggression Pacts and Treaty of Friendship Signed with Three Great Powers

French Indo-China

When Non-Aggression Pacts were signed on June 12, 1940 with Great Britain and France, a Treaty of Friendship was signed on the same day with Japan, the Phibunsonggram Government maintained the balance between Britain and Japan but clearly showed its determination to take advantage of France’s weak position to regain lost territories in Indo-China.

In negotiating the Non-Aggression Pact with the French, the Phibunsonggram Government took advantage of the friendly attitude of Britain to secure a concession from France. It profited from the tactic of playing off one enemy against another.

The success of this tactics was enhanced by Japan’s southward advance from China and the rise of Thai nationalism, irredentism and “Pan-Thaiism” at home.




These internal and external factors challenged the political positions of both Great Britain and France in Asia, and the two powers were obliged to come to terms with Thailand.