Office of the Historian

740.0011 Pacific War/1956

The Assistant Secretary of War (McCloy) to the Assistant Secretary of State (Acheson)

Washington, January 28, 1942.

Dear Dean: I enclose herewith a memorandum sent to me by the War Plans Division covering the inquiry that was made by Dr. Soong as to the attitude of this Department to the invasion of Indochina by Chinese forces.

Before I communicate this to Dr. Soong, I think you should see it and let me have the views of your Department.

Sincerely,

John J. McCloy
[Page 756]
[Enclosure]

Memorandum

[Washington,] January 26, 1942.

1. Views of the War Plans Division with respect to possible invasion of Indo-China by Chiang Kai Shek are as follows:

a.
That French opposition to allied invasion of French territories is official and compulsory rather than representative of popular opinion and desire.
b.
That one feature of allied propaganda should be to convince all Frenchmen that their only chance of recovering their territories after the war and of being restored to a world power status is through an allied victory.
c.
That the situation in Rangoon and Burma is such as to make highly desirable the application of pressure from the north, in order to halt the Japanese advance. (The Chinese are already aware of the fact that any operations in North Burma must be carried out under the strategic direction of General Wavell.12)
d.
That the advance indicated in the sub-paragraph above should not be halted merely because it might partially involve Indo-China territory.
e.
That Indo-China is, in fact, occupied by our enemy and though this may have come about without any blame attaching to the French, yet the allies are justified in striking back through that territory when and if such action appears desirable.
f.
That no matter what action is taken by us or by our associates in Indo-China, it will have little if any effect on French reaction in other regions, as long as our operations are carried out with due regard for the French interests such as private property, etc.
g.
The British attitude on this question is unknown, but they certainly should now welcome Chinese assistance in North Burma.

  1. Field Marshall Sir Archibald P. Wavell, British Commander in Chief, India and Burma.↩