751G.94/37a: Telegram
The Secretary of State to the Chargé in France (Matthews), at Vichy
379. Your 362, August 17, 4 p.m.
1. The Chinese Embassy here is in receipt of a message from the Chinese Embassy in France to the effect that the French had decided on August 16 to accept in principle Japanese demands for passage of Japanese troops through Indochina and for the granting to Japan of Tonkin and Tonkin Bay as military bases. The message states that the French Government has informed the American Government of the nature and scope of the instructions which the French Government sent to its Ambassador in Tokyo.
This Government has not been informed of the reported instructions except for the information given in your telegram under reference.
2. The Consul at Hanoi on August 23 reported as follows:
“…44 the Chinese Consul General has informed me that according to information received from the Chinese Ambassador at Vichy, the [Page 86] French Government at Vichy has agreed to Japanese demands for the military use of airports, harbors and railroads in Tonkin, as well as the expulsion of Chinese Government officials. Indochina authorities profess to know nothing of such an agreement and characterize the information as a ‘Chinese rumor’ but the Chinese are taking the information seriously and are preparing to evacuate on short notice.”
3. The Chinese Ambassador here informed an officer of the Department on August 25 that the French Government has entered into agreements with the Japanese Government along the lines indicated in the foregoing paragraph and that the Chinese are especially concerned over the matter of utilization by the Japanese of Tonkin Bay.
4. Please endeavor to see Chauvel and state that the granting by the French Government to the Japanese Government of concessions of the nature and scope described above would create an unfavorable impression in this country and that this Government hesitates to believe that the French Government has actually made such concessions. Endeavor, therefore, to obtain clarification. If you are unable to obtain satisfactory clarification from Chauvel, the Department suggests that you endeavor to see Marshal Petain45 but it prefers that you not seek an interview with Baudoin on this matter.