751G.94/271: Telegram
The Chargé in France (Murphy) to the Secretary of State
[Received December 17—9:50 a.m.]
1142. Your 837, December 12, 7 p.m. I brought the suggestion informally to the attention of Chauvel on December 14th. He said the [Page 240] idea has much to recommend it, adding with a smile that he was mildly surprised that we should suggest any dealing with the Germans.
He said that at Wiesbaden the Germans (he mentioned General von Stulpnagel) have made several informal inquiries to General Huntziger76 regarding Indochina. The general tenor of the question has been: “What is it all about?” According to Chauvel, the Germans have never put the slightest pressure on the French to cede to Japanese demands. On the contrary he is certain that the German preference for selfish precedent no doubt is for the retention intact of Indochina as an integral part of the French Colonial Empire.
Chauvel said that the suggestion will receive careful and sympathetic study. He will keep us informed.
I also had an opportunity to mention the matter to Baudoin. He said that in his opinion it would be the last thing which France should do under the present circumstances. According to Baudoin, the Japanese have manifested a certain pride in retaining an independence of action in the Orient and he believes that they would resent any suggestions from Germany. He believes furthermore that the Germans would be unwilling to interfere in the slightest with the Japanese plans in the Orient.
- Head of the French Armistice Commission at Wiesbaden.↩