851G.01/22: Telegram
The Consul at Saigon (Flood) to the Secretary of State
[Received 9:45 p.m.]
Consternation describes the general reaction of the French here to the terms of the armistice imposed by Germany as published in press today.
French veterans comprising about 20% of the Europeans are agitating by unsigned circular for support of “provisional De Gaulle government,” emphasizing the urgent need for British and American naval assistance to maintain the status quo of Indo-China. Highest local French naval authorities view with deepest concern as a flagrant and studied infringement on sovereignty the arrangement whereby Japanese army and naval officers are to be permitted to inspect transportation in Tongking notwithstanding official statements that transit shipments to the Chinese Government have been stopped. They point out grave danger of possible resulting incidents and express ardent [Page 38] hope that something may be done by the United States to divert threatening power before it is too late. They emphasize at the same time urgent need of airplanes and ammunition from the United States.
Sent to naval radio Cavite for repetition to the Department, Chungking, Peiping, Hong Kong, Shanghai. Shanghai, please, repeat to Tokyo.