Office of the Historian

893.24/748: Telegram

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

Tokyo, June 20, 1940—midnight.
[Received June 20—4 p.m.]

481. The French Ambassador communicated to me today the following information:

1.
The Japanese Government last week made a “request” that the transportation from French Indochina to China of petroleum, trucks and railway supplies be stopped. This proposal was referred to the French Government and at the same time was communicated for his information to the Governor General of Indochina. Having regard to the situation in France the Governor General assumed the responsibility for taking action responsive to the Japanese proposition and telegraphed my French colleague on June 17 that he had forbidden the transportation to China of petroleum. In a further telegram received here the following day the Governor General stated that he had also prohibited the transportation of trucks. Mr. Arsene-Henry yesterday communicated the foregoing information to the Foreign Vice Minister who stated that although the action of the Governor [Page 31] General was gratifying it was desired that he also forbid the transportation of railway supplies and that he comply with a Japanese request made some time ago that the Japanese be permitted to establish cargo control in French Indochina. A third telegram from the Governor General received today stated that he has forbidden the transportation of railway supplies and that he has in fact prohibited all cargo traffic to China and that he would be agreeable to the establishment of cargo control provided that such control was carried out in a “discreet” manner.
2.
As it has been impossible to consult the French Government, full responsibility for complying with the Japanese wishes has been assumed by the Governor General and the French Ambassadors in Japan and China. These three officials realize the importance of avoiding action which would lead to charges in the United States of French bad faith or lack of cooperation. They feel, however, that to give the Japanese any pretext for aggression against French Indochina is the supreme consideration at this critical time. My French colleague requested in the most earnest manner that the American Government would view with sympathy the difficulties confronting these three French officials on whom fate has imposed the responsibility for safeguarding the interests of France in the Far East.
Grew