751G.94/60: Telegram
The Secretary of State to the Chargé in France (Matthews), at Vichy
418. On September 4 the American Ambassador at Tokyo, under instructions from the Department, called on the Japanese Vice Minister for Foreign Affairs (in the absence of the Minister) and referred to reports from various sources that the Japanese Government had delivered an ultimatum to the French authorities in Indochina in connection with Japanese demands for the granting of passage through French territory of Japanese armed forces, et cetera. The Ambassador spoke emphatically of the attitude of the United States as well as of the expressed attitude—some weeks ago—of Japan on the subject of the maintenance of the status quo in French Indochina [Page 96] and of the deplorable effect on American public opinion should the indicated intention of the Japanese forces be put into execution.55
You are authorized in your discretion to inform the Foreign Office orally and informally of the substance of the foregoing.56
- For instructions to the Ambassador in Japan concerning this matter, see telegram No. 334, September 3, 6 p.m., Foreign Relations, Japan, 1931–1941, vol. ii, p. 291; for the Ambassador’s report of representations made, see his telegram No. 789, September 4, 9 p.m., ibid., p. 292. In an aide-mémoire of September 4 (751G.94/110), the British Embassy informed the Department of State of instructions on September 3 to the British Ambassador in Japan to make similar representations, of the British Foreign Office’s inquiry whether the United States would instruct Ambassador Grew correspondingly, and of instructions to the British Minister in Thailand to act at his discretion to dissuade the latter from taking precipitate action. The Embassy’s aide-mémoire was acknowledged orally.↩
- The Governor General of French Indochina was also informed of the American position by the Consul at Hanoi.↩