740.0011 Pacific War/646: Telegram
The Consul at Hanoi (Reed) to the Secretary of State
[Received November 26—9:45 a.m.]
187. The following information is forwarded for what it may be worth.
A reliable source informs me that a certain agency of the Government General has just received from one of its agents a report to the effect that the Japanese Navy will, without a declaration of war or ultimatum, attack the Isthmus of Kra [at Singora?] on or about December 1, and that the Japanese Army will begin its advance into Thailand at the same time. The above mentioned agent reports that the Japanese do not anticipate any Chinese reaction along the Tongking frontier.
The above information may explain the present acceleration in troop landings at Haiphong, approximately 4,000 within the last few days, and the increased movement by rail towards the south, approximately [Page 351] 1,500 Japanese troops are to be sent by special trains this evening and tomorrow. There are now about 25,000 troops in Tongking and about 90 planes at Gialam.
Sent to Cavite for repetition to the Department, Chungking, Peiping, Hong Kong, Shanghai. Shanghai please repeat to Tokyo. Repeated to Bangkok.