893.0146/733: Telegram
The Ambassador in France (Bullitt) to the Secretary of State
[Received 9 p.m.]
2750. Champetier de Ribes10 assured me today that the announcement of the withdrawal of French and British troops from Tientsin and other areas (see my No. 2738, November 1311) had been made because the French and British were extremely anxious not to have any conflict with Japan at the present time. He assured me that neither the British nor the French were conducting any secret negotiations whatsoever with the Japanese. He stated flatly that there was no question at the present time of any agreement between Japan [Page 319] and France or England based on a French or British cooperation with Japan against either China or the Soviet Union.
In conclusion he stated that French and British policy in the Far East at the present time was based on a simple desire to remain on as good terms as possible with both China and Japan.
I asked the Minister what he thought of the remarks of Naggiar, French Ambassador in Moscow, (reported in my No. 2723 of November 10, 11 p.m.12). He said that he did not agree with Naggiar and did not believe that there were any serious negotiations in progress between the Soviet Union and Japan. He considered it out of the question for the Soviet Union and Japan to agree to divide China.