Office of the Historian

751G.94/75: Telegram

The Chargé in France (Matthews) to the Secretary of State

Vichy, September 6, 1940—4 p.m.
[Received 6:45 p.m.]

505. Department’s telegram No. 418, September 4, 6 p.m. (received this morning) and my telegram No. 496, September 5, 6 p.m. I saw Chauvel this morning and conveyed to him orally the substance of Department’s 418. He expressed appreciation for the information contained therein. He seems to feel that in view of France’s firm attitude, the Japanese will in the near future come to an agreement limiting the number and scope of operations of troops passing through Indo-China. He says he is sure, however, that the Japanese will not abandon their purpose of passing through that territory. An important factor he admitted in the “more reasonable” attitude now adopted by the Japanese is the massing of Chinese troops in considerable numbers on the border of French Indo-China—a development which he believes has occasioned surprise to the Japanese. In fact, he said, presumably Indo-China will in any event become a battleground rather than just a transport route for Japanese troops into China; the Chinese will cross the frontier just as soon as the agreement is reached.

He could or would give me no detailed information as to the nature of the Japanese military demands, the number of troops they wish to send into the country or the routes over which they are demanding passage rights: All this, he said, is being discussed at Hanoi.

I must reiterate that I perceive no likelihood that the French Government having committed itself to a willingness to negotiate on the question of Japanese troop passage will take a stand against such entry into Indo-Chinese territory. It will, however, I believe continue to do all possible to limit the scope and permanence thereof. [Page 103] Chauvel said in this connection that it would be very helpful if we could obtain from the Japanese the same assurances as the French with respect to the temporary nature of this military movement and the preservation of the independence and integrity of French Indo-China.

Matthews