893.0146/706: Telegram
The Ambassador in France (Bullitt) to the Secretary of State
[Received September 30—3:30 p.m.]
2263. I communicated to Leger today the substance of your 1105, September 29, 4 p.m.66
Leger had already received the same information from the French Ambassador in Washington. He stated that the position taken by the Government of the United States was not sufficiently affirmative to enable the French and British Governments to base their policy upon it. All French and British gunboats and troops therefore would be withdrawn from all areas in China, including Shanghai, immediately.
He went on to say that this decision has been delayed only because it was hoped that affirmative support from the Government of the United States might be forthcoming but that the communication which had been made to Saint-Quentin and Lothian had decided the French and British Governments to withdraw at once in order to avoid immediate conflict with the Japanese.
I also expressed the views contained in your 1109, September 29, 6 p.m.67 to Leger. He said that he believed that our Government was much too optimistic with regard to the attitude of Japan. He believed that the moment that a German attack should be launched against France, Japan would drive the French and British completely from the Far East. He knew that the Japanese were engaged in serious conversation with Germany and the Soviet Union. He thought that our policy of waiting for an evolution in Japan would be another case of waiting by the Democracies while the Dictatorships acted.