1942: Thailand

Little was known about conditions in Thailand during 1942 except that the Thai government was little more than a Japanese puppet regime. Early in January the Bangkok radio announced Thailand's claim to the Shan States of Eastern Burma. On Jan. 25 war was declared on Britain and the United States, but Thai patrols had already crossed the frontier into Burma some days before. Subsequently, Thai troops fought on Japan's side against the Chinese in the vicinity of Toungoo. On July 7 the Thai government officially recognized the Japanese puppet regime of Wang Ching-wei in occupied China. A few days later it was reported that Indo-China had ceded Thailand a considerable area, thus adding to the land surrendered in 1941. On July 17 Thailand appointed a naval attaché to Berlin and Rome, 'further to promote cooperation between Thailand and the Axis powers.' The capital at Bangkok was used as a gathering place for pro-Japanese Indians from various sections of the Japanese Empire, and radio broadcasts from Bangkok to India sought to encourage disaffection there.

Allied action against Thailand was confined to air raids. In January planes based on Burma attacked Rayong and Bangkok. Late in November nine American heavy bombers, flying a long course from India, executed a large-scale attack on an oil refinery in Bangkok, the only installation of its kind in the country. The refinery, which produced motor oil and aviation fuel for Japanese planes, was believed to have been heavily damaged. A few days later the German radio declared that the population of Bangkok had been requested to leave the city voluntarily, partly because further British and American air attacks must be expected.