893.24/480: Telegram
The Ambassador in Japan (Grew) to the Secretary of State
[Received November 2—1:03 p.m.]
702. Japanese protest concerning shipment of arms via French Indo-China. My French colleague96 confirms the report that he was recently called to the Foreign Office by Prince Konoe who as Foreign Minister protested in general terms against the alleged shipment of arms and munitions for the Chiang Kai Shek Government through French Indo-China. The Foreign Minister stated that a similar démarche was being made simultaneously through the Japanese Ambassador at Paris. Prince Konoe stated that if such shipments were not stopped “certain steps would have to be taken” but he did not specify what those steps would be.
The French Ambassador replied in a general denial of the allegation that any arms or munitions had been shipped into China through French Indo-China since the frontier had been closed by the Indo-Chinese Government to all munitions traffic and demanded specific evidence.
By the way of elaborating on this question my French colleague informs me that in every case where specific complaints have been made of such contraband shipments the French Government has investigated with the greatest of care and in no single instance has the allegation of the Japanese been found to be true. He said that allegations involving individual instances of shipments undoubtedly arose from false information given for a fee by irresponsible individuals to Japanese consular officials in French Indo-China. He further stated that in his opinion the general allegation of shipment of arms through French Indo-China originated with and was kept alive by certain interested circles in Japan probably with the support of the navy in whose interest it was to furnish any excuse to further the southward advance policy by the seizure of Hainan Island and a blockade of the Gulf of Tongking.
Arsene-Henry has reported fully to his Foreign Office but he has as yet received no reply.
Repeated to Shanghai for Chungking.
- Charles Arsene-Henry, French Ambassador in Japan.↩