751G.94/160: Telegram
The Consul at Hanoi (Reed) to the Secretary of State
[Received September 25—5:30 p.m.]
The Governor General has just informed me that, in the hope that the implementing of the agreement signed Sunday September 22 (my telegram of [September 22,] 7 p.m.) will prevent a large scale attack and will also influence the Canton army to stop the invasion of Tongking, it has been agreed that the Japanese may land at Haiphong tomorrow morning (the first contingent to be 1,000), the occupation of the airports to follow within a few days as well as the landing of the other troops envisaged by the agreement. He explained that Nishihara has promised to use his influence to stop the pressure by [the Canton army] but he seemed to be far from optimistic as to the success of Nishihara’s promised efforts. He was in fact extremely pessimistic as to the future but he added a peaceful occupation of Tongking north of the Red River gave some room for hope of Indochina’s territorial integrity—if the Japanese kept their [promise]. He and other officials with whom I talked today were very despondent.
[Page 154]Sent to Cavite for repetition to the Department, Chungking, Peiping, Hong Kong, Shanghai, Canton; Chungking please repeat to Kunming.