793.94/15569
The Ambassador in China (Johnson) to the Secretary of State
[Received January 2, 1940.]
Subject: French Attitude toward the Chinese-Japanese Hostilities.
Sir: I have the honor to refer to the Embassy’s telegram No. 624, of December 3, 1939,18 summarizing remarks made by the French Ambassador to Major J. M. McHugh, U. S. M. C, Assistant Naval Attaché, on December 2, 1939, in regard to the subject indicated at the head of this despatch.
The conversation reported occurred at a luncheon at the French Embassy in Chungking and the participants were limited to M. Henri Cosme, French Ambassador, Major McHugh and Mr. Hollington K. Tong, who, in addition to being Vice Minister of the Central Publicity Board, is in constant and confidential communication with General and Madame Chiang Kai-shek. I was, myself, present at the luncheon, but knowing the long-established friendship between the Ambassador and Major McHugh I forebore to join the conversation, for fear that if the group became too large its intimate character might be destroyed.
I have the honor to enclose a clear account19 of what was said, prepared by Major McHugh. Although the memorandum will repay reading in its entirety, the Department’s attention is invited to the following salient points: The attitude of the French Government toward the Chinese Government in its struggle with Japan is not lukewarm. The French Military Mission (whose departure was reported [Page 328] in Chungking’s telegram No. 566, of October 23, 193919a) did not come to China under the sponsorship, nor even with the knowledge, of the French Government, but it was allowed to remain as a goodwill gesture and its members departed only because their services were required in France. The French authorities have not given any countenance to Japanese puppet regimes in northern and eastern China. The French Government follows closely the lead of the American Government. The real purpose of the Japanese thrust into Kwangsi Province in November was to intimidate the French authorities into closing the routes through Indochina over which the Chinese Government has been importing needed supplies. The French have been and are doing their best to increase the carrying-capacity of the Haiphong–Kunming Railway, but the Chinese have not even provided adequate guards for the portion in Chinese territory. The French authorities foresaw the Japanese invasion of Kwangsi, in an attempt to cut lines of communication, and warned the Chinese in advance; they even took active steps toward the creation of a new motor road from Haiphong to Laokay, where the railway crosses into Chinese territory. The Chinese, however, have not done their part toward improving and developing communication routes, nor toward preventing the cutting of existing routes. Mr. Tong assured the Ambassador that he need have no anxiety lest the Provincial authorities of Yunnan fail to cooperate with the National Government in keeping routes open through that province. The Ambassador found the morale of the Chinese Government even better than it was during the summer.
Major McHugh believes that there has been ground for reports of a lukewarm attitude toward the Chinese side of the present controversy and that the French are apprehensive of a Japanese attack on Indochina. Nevertheless, he believes that the French Ambassador was sincere in saying that he wished to assist the Chinese Government against Japan and he attributes this to the firm attitude taken by the American Government and to a conclusion on the part of the French that in the interest of Indochina and of relations between France and the United States it is desirable to stiffen Chinese resistance to Japan.
My observations in Indochina when on leave in September and October and other considerations cause me to concur in the opinion of Major McHugh. Although Major McHugh does not wish to commit himself on the subject, it seems probable to me that the French Ambassador made the remarks recorded in the enclosed memorandum at least partially in the expectation that they would become known to the American Government.
Respectfully yours,
Counselor of Embassy