Office of the Historian

740.0011 P. W./161: Telegram

The Ambassador in Japan (Grew) to the Secretary of State

Tokyo, March 20, 1941—1 p.m.
[Received March 20—8:10 a.m.]

437. The following information has been received from the Rumanian Military Attaché who states that it was obtained from the Italian Naval Attaché here:

1.
As a result of reinforcements sent during last month, Japanese troops in Hainan have now reached a total of approximately 135,000. Some 15,000 Japanese troops are now in French Indochina.
2.
Germany and Italy have been pressing for an immediate Japanese attack on Malaya and the Netherlands East Indies but the Japanese general staff has refused to consider launching an attack at this time.
3.
Matsuoka will, in Berlin and Rome, explain the reasons why Japan cannot start the southward advance at the present time.

Please inform Navy Department.

Grew