751G.94/270a: Telegram
The Secretary of State to the Chargé in France (Murphy), at Vichy
837. The Department suggests that, unless you perceive objection, in which case you should report your reasons to the Department by telegraph, you take an early opportunity to speak informally to an appropriate official of the French Government substantially along lines as follows:
Having in mind the statements which officials of the French Government have made from time to time that they entertain friendly sentiments toward the United States, we should like, in a spirit of good will and in the belief that the matter is one in which the appropriate French officials will be interested, to make known to them our considered view, based upon information available to us, that Japanese maneuvers in and with relation to French Indochina and with relation to Thailand are indicative of a clear intention on the part of the Japanese to extend their influence and domination in the French territory in question. This would seem to us to be neither to the advantage of France nor to the advantage of Thailand and it occurs to us that it might be feasible for the French authorities, in their own interests as well as in the interest of the maintenance of [Page 236] the principles of orderly processes and fair dealing among nations, to discuss the situation which is developing with appropriate German authorities with a view to the bringing by the latter of restraining influence to bear upon the Japanese Government.
This is, of course, a purely informational, unofficial and friendly suggestion made in the obvious interests of all who have a rightful concern in the present trend of developments in the area of the Far East in question.