Restoration of Diplomatic Relations Between Thailand and Russia

Prayoon Phamonmontri

The leader of a Thai Mission to Europe

Indeed it was Thai dissatisfaction with, and distrust of, Japan that led to a restoration of diplomatic relations between Thailand and Russia, which had lapsed after the overthrow of the Tsar.

It was the Thai intention to use the Soviet Union, in addition to Great Britain, to counter-balance Japanese ambitions. While in Berlin, Colonel Prayoon Phamonmontri, the leader of a Thai mission to Europe, was urged by the Thai Premier to proceed at all speed to Moscow to negotiate a treaty with the Soviet Union.

As a result, the restoration of diplomatic and commercial relations between Thailand and the Soviet Union was announced in Moscow on March 12, 1941, a day after the French Indo-China border agreement was initialed in Tokyo.

Despite the optimism generated by this agreement, the Soviet role never matched Thai expectations.