751G.94/138: Telegram
The Chargé in France (Matthews) to the Secretary of State
[Received 4:15 p.m.]
605. I have just returned a call on Chauvel which I made at his request. He said that he had shown Baudoin my memorandum of yesterday (please see my telegram 599, September 21, 3 p.m.) and had received the latter’s authorization to give us detailed information regarding the progress of the Franco-Japanese negotiations. This he will do tomorrow.
Chauvel then said that the Gaimusho had informed the French Ambassador at Tokyo on September 19 that it was displeased with the slow progress being made in the military negotiations and that unless agreement were immediately forthcoming orders would be given to the Japanese troops to cross the Indochinese frontier during the night of September 22 (Indochinese time). The Ambassador replied that additional time was required in view of the new demands made by the Japanese military authorities at Hanoi (see my telegram No. 589, September 19, 7 p.m.). These include (1) authorization for 20,000 Japanese soldiers to enter Indochina from Kwangsi and 6000 through Haiphong and (2) the stationing of such troops in Indochina, (3) permission for the Japanese to maintain a full military staff at Hanoi.
Chauvel claims that the Japanese Foreign Office had apparently been unaware of the new demands made at Hanoi and that its ultimatum presumably had reference to negotiations regarding the mere transit of troops.
He stated that the Japanese Consul General has left Hanoi as has the Japanese military mission. The chief of the latter has gone to Haiphong to await orders.
Should the Gaimusho fail to request the military authorities to postpone action, Chauvel considers it probable that Indochina will be invaded on the 22d. The French Governor General of Indochina has been instructed to oppose such aggression with force.