Office of the Historian

751G.92/174: Telegram

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

Tokyo, January 16, 1941—5 p.m.
[Received January 16—11:20 a.m.]

75. [Department’s] 32, January 14, 7 p.m.

1.
In my talk this morning with the French Ambassador along the lines of the Department’s authorization he minimized the importance and extent of the Thai aggression in Indochina and expressed doubt that the Japanese are inciting the Thais to such aggression. He learns from the French representative in Bangkok … is constantly intriguing and inciting the Thais. The American Minister, on the other hand, is making every effort to exert a restraining influence and to smooth out the situation.
2.
My French colleague believes that the commission to delimitate the frontier on the Mekong River and to apportion the islands therein will soon begin to function, probably without awaiting the arrival of Monsieur Robin who cannot expect to leave Tokyo until the conclusion of the present commercial negotiations which may take another month or six weeks. In any case Robin will not proceed by air due to the fact that three former Governors General of Indochina have been killed in airplane accidents.
3.
The French Ambassador states that recent shipping negotiations between Indochina and Singapore have aroused deep suspicion among the Japanese who accuse the Governor-General of intriguing with the British. These negotiations, however, have merely led to an arrangement for the sailing of some three vessels monthly between Singapore and Saigon for the purpose of exchanging rice from Indochina for gunny bags made from Indian hemp via Singapore and other needed commodities.
4.
Regarding the general Thai-Indochina situation, my French colleague exhibits complacency and little evidence of anxiety.
Grew