740.0011 Pacific War/541: Telegram

The Secretary of State to the Ambassador in Japan ( Grew )

633. Reference Hanoi’s 140, September 26, 10 a.m.; 141, September 26, 11 a.m.; 142, September 26, 4 p.m.; 145, September 27, 4 p.m., which have been repeated to you;91 Saigon’s 98, September 27, 9 a.m., which is being repeated to you by separate telegram and your 1542, September 30, 3 p.m., Japanese actions in Indochina.

The Department suggests that, in your discretion, you convey to the Foreign Minister on an opportune occasion a statement along lines as follows:

[Page 305]

The attitude of the American Government toward Japanese activities in French Indochina is well-known (as set forth inter alia in the Acting Secretary’s statement to the press of July 2392). That attitude remains unchanged. This Government has noted recent acts of the Japanese military in Indochina, which seem to constitute additional indication of an intention on the part of the Japanese military to infringe upon and disregard French sovereignty in that area. This Government finds it especially difficult at this time to reconcile the reported Japanese actions in Indochina with recent declarations of high Japanese officials that Japan’s fundamental policy is based upon the maintenance of peace and pursuit of courses of peace.

Hull
  1. None printed.
  2. For press release issued by the Department of State, July 24, see Foreign Relations, Japan, 1931–1941, vol. ii, p. 315.