740.0011 Pacific War/647: Telegram
The Consul at Saigon (Browne) to the Secretary of State
[Received November 26—4:56 p.m.]
157. On November 21 Japanese troop and supply ships began to arrive at Saigon and they now occupy all of the pier space including that of the Messageries Maritimes. It is reliably reported that 20,000 Japanese troops have landed since that date. Another 10,000 are believed to have arrived from the north during the same period and the Japanese forces in Southern Indochina are now estimated at 70,000. One qualified observer places their number at 128,000 but this is probably too high as yet. The Government still insists that there are not more than 30,000 in the south.
Large numbers of trucks have been landed and these are being used to move men and equipment out of Saigon. A large movement is taking place and it would appear that military operations against Thailand may soon begin.
During the night of November 21–22 Japanese troops erected barricades in Saigon and Cholon, entered Chinese dwellings and arrested about 60 Chinese. They also arrested some 40 Annamites at a neighboring town. The Government has protested. The Yoshizawa mission obviously has no restraining effect on the actions of the Japanese Army in Indochina.
Sent to Cavite for repetition to the Department, Chungking, Peiping, Hong Kong, Shanghai; Shanghai please repeat to Tokyo. Repeated to Bangkok.