740.0011 P.W./561: Telegram
The Ambassador in France (Leahy) to the Secretary of State
[Received October 12—1:27 a.m.]
1295. Embassy’s telegram 1283, October 8, 2 p.m. Ostrorog (who has just returned as Acting Chief of the Far Eastern Division of the Foreign Office) told us this afternoon that the situation with respect to Indochina is “slightly more satisfactory”. He said that in the face of the “firm attitude” of the French; the clear indications given that the policy of “appeasement” in Indochina is at an end and that the French are determined to resist by force if necessary, the Japanese have somewhat modified their aggressive attitude. He told us (which Lacoste had not had the frankness to do) that the Japanese had made a “formal demand to send 50,000 additional troops into Tonkin” but had now, temporarily at least, let up on their pressure.8
- The Department transmitted the text of this telegram to the Ambassador in Japan in telegram No. 664, October 15, 5 p.m.↩