893.0146/713: Telegram
The Ambassador in France (Bullitt) to the Secretary of State
[Received October 9—3:05 p.m.]
2391. I communicated the substance of your 1180, October 6, 9 p.m. and your 1184, October 6, 12 midnight,72 to Chauvel today.
[Page 283]He was most grateful and stated that while there had been no change in the basic decision of the French and British Governments to withdraw their forces from China very careful orders had just been given that the withdrawal of these forces should be held in suspense for the present.
He stated that before the decision to hold withdrawal in suspense had been decided upon orders had been issued to withdraw 5 of the 10 British gunboats and 2 of the 4 French gunboats.
A few officers and men also might be withdrawn but for the present at least the decision to withdraw completely would not be carried out.
Chauvel went on to say that he personally had always opposed withdrawal and he was most happy about this suspension of withdrawal.
His own opinion with regard to the situation in the Far East was in line with the opinion you expressed in your 1180, October 6, 9 p.m.
The French Government had just received authoritative information from Chungking that the German Government had proposed to Chiang Kai Shek that Germany should attempt to bring about peace between China and Japan on the basis of a withdrawal of Japanese troops from all portions of China, except Manchuria; a recognition by China of the “independence” of Manchukuo, an increase in the Japanese zone at Shanghai and an economic and financial agreement between China and Japan. This proposal had been discussed by Chiang Kai Shek with his Chinese military advisers and the decision had been made to reject it flatly.
The French Government believed that this indicated that Chiang Kai Shek still felt that he had sufficient weapons in hand [to] continue his fight against foreign power.
Furthermore the French Government had information that seemed credible to the effect that the Chinese air force—that is to say the Soviet fliers in China—had recently recommenced their activities on a fairly large scale. This seemed to indicate that the Soviet Union intended to continue to support China against Japan.
Moreover the French Government had information from both Moscow and Tokyo which indicated that in spite appearances to the contrary neither the Russians nor the Japanese had confidence in the settlement with regard to the borders of Manchuria and Mongolia73 and that both sides were reinforcing their forces in those regions.
Under the circumstances it was the opinion of the French Government that the Japanese were in reality not in a position to antagonize violently France, Great Britain, and the United States.