740.0011 P.W./605: Telegram
The Consul at Hanoi (Reed) to the Secretary of State
[Received November 7—3:40 a.m.]
171. Reference to Department’s telegram No. 24 [21], October 31, 6 p.m.,22 received November 2, 5 p.m. As of today and based on information from military authorities, it is estimated that there are approximately 17,000 Japanese troops and 35 airplanes in Tongking. So far as can be ascertained there are no Japanese troops garrisoned in Laos, but a number of Japanese reconnaissance parties have recently traveled widely in that region and there are there at the present time a number of Japanese civilians who probably belong to the military. The same sources estimate the Japanese troops in the south at about 26,500 and the airplanes at 75 (30 at Saigon)—making a total of 43,500 troops and 110 airplanes in Indochina. During [Page 333] the last week only a few hundred Japanese troops were landed at Haiphong, but according to my informants there are indications that the Japanese will again begin to land important numbers at that port. It is noted that a considerable number of horses and [apparent omission] trucks have been landed at Haiphong. The small number of airplanes is of little importance as planes can fly from Hainan in a few hours.
Sent to Cavite for repetition to the Department; Chungking, Peiping, Hong Kong, Shanghai. Repeated to Bangkok.
- Not printed.↩