Leaflet dropped over Thailand - Can someone translate?

Discussion in 'War Against Japan' started by REK, Aug 31, 2010.

  1. REK

    REK Senior Member

    I came across this leaflet while I was looking through some of my late father's stuff over the weekend.

    I think it was probably dropped over Thailand from Allied aircraft. The photographs on the other pages of the leaflet (which I have not included here) provide a pretty good clue of what it is likely to be about, but is there anyone here who can translate it?

    Many thanks
    Richard
     

    Attached Files:

  2. REK

    REK Senior Member

    OK, I'll tell you what the photos on the other pages of this leaflet are. They're pictures of military and world leaders, including Truman and Attlee - suggesting the very, very final stages of the Pacific War.

    Is there anyone here who can translate it perhaps (Thai into English)?
     
  3. Za Rodinu

    Za Rodinu Hot air manufacturer

    Nothing special, it's a Dim Sum recipe as a matter of fact.
     
  4. PsyWar.Org

    PsyWar.Org Archive monkey

    Richard, it certainly is an air-dropped newspaper produced by the Americans. I should remember the newspaper's title but it escapes me at the moment. If it comes back to me I'll let you know. I can't look it up either as all my research material and library in on a container ship somewhere in the Atlantic at the moment.

    Lee
     
  5. REK

    REK Senior Member

    Thanks, Miguel and Lee, for your replies. I'm glad to see the elephant's back!

    Lee, I've just had a look at your website. I'd be glad to send you a scanned copy of the whole leaflet if it's of any general interest to you.

    Perhaps it's just me, but I find the photographs of the four Allied leaders on the back page decidedly odd, with Stalin looking by far the most benign of the four, Truman rather nervous, and Attlee just plain menacing.
     
  6. REK

    REK Senior Member

    I came across this leaflet while I was looking through some of my late father's stuff over the weekend.

    I think it was probably dropped over Thailand from Allied aircraft. The photographs on the other pages of the leaflet (which I have not included here) provide a pretty good clue of what it is likely to be about, but is there anyone here who can translate it?

    Many thanks
    Richard

    I now have a translation:

    Celebrating Victory
    The Homeland is Saved!

    [Inset box, beneath the American flag:] With friendship from the United States

    USA welcomes Thai declaration; Allied soldiers occupy Japan

    The United States of America welcomes the action taken by Thailand to invalidate the declaration of war on the United States of America made by the government of Prime Minister Plaek [Pibulsonggram]. America sincerely hopes that from now on ties between Thailand and America will grow to become even stronger than they were before the war.

    Mr. James F. Byrnes, the US Secretary of State declared the above from Washington. What follows are the words of Mr. Byrnes: “...these actions by the Thai government represent step towards improving the relationship between America and Thailand ... It has been our understanding since the beginning that Thailand’s declaration of war (25 January 1942) was not the will of the Thai people. For this reason we have ignored the declaration...”

    “Before the war Thailand and America have long had close relations. We hope that in the future this goodwill will continue to improve. Over the past four years we have not considered Thailand an enemy, but rather a country to be liberated from the power of our adversary. Now that Thailand has been released from the yoke of Japanese occupation, we hope that Thailand will fully return to the society of free, independent, and sovereign nations.”

    Furthermore, Mr. Byrnes praised the Free Thai Movement, both domestic and abroad, which was established by the Thai ambassador to the US.
    ______________________________________

    Top Right

    The war is over! Japan has signed a treaty to formally surrender to the Allied Powers aboard a battleship in the Bay of Tokyo.

    Prior to the signing, General MacArthur, Supreme Commander of the Allied Powers, arrived in Japan along with troops to be stationed there. The first troops arrived by airplane at an airport near Tokyo.

    Following the signing, General MacArthur ordered the military commanders of the Empire of Japan to order all Japanese commanding officers on all battle fronts to give complete and unconditional surrender to the Allied Powers.
     
  7. Smudger Jnr

    Smudger Jnr Our Man in Berlin

    REK,

    Glad you managed to obtain a translation.

    Interesting reading.

    Regards
    Tom
     
  8. REK

    REK Senior Member

    Thanks, Tom. Richard.
     

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