793.94111/89: Telegram
The Ambassador in France (Bullitt) to the Secretary of State
[Received November 8—7:08 p.m.]
1575. When Delbos telephoned to me this afternoon (see my No. 1576, November 8, 9 p.m.3) he said that there was a question with [Page 667] regard to the Far East concerning which he would like to have immediate clarification. When he had attempted to discuss with Davis the question of the protection of French Indo-China in case of Japanese reprisals, Davis had replied that the question was one which was so remote in the future that there was no use talking about it and he, Delbos, had derived the impression that the United States under no conditions would consider sending the American fleet to Far Eastern waters to protect French Indo-China.
On the other hand the French Chargé d’Affaires in Washington, Jules Henry, had talked with the President day before yesterday and had cabled that the President had said that he regarded the situation of French Indo-China and the situation of the Philippines in much the same way and had given Henry the impression definitely that he would be inclined to extend the protection of the American fleet to French Indo-China. Delbos said that for obvious reasons he was intensely interested to know whether the impression he had derived from Davis or the impression Henry had derived from the President gave a correct picture of the point of view of the American Government with regard to the use of the American Fleet in the Far East in case of Japanese reprisals.
I, of course, made no comments nor did I ask any questions as the conversation was over the telephone.
I should be greatly obliged for instructions as to how I should reply to further questions on this subject. Chautemps has invited me to lunch on Wednesday, November 10, with him, Blum, and Bonnet4 and I shall certainly be questioned at that time.
- Vol. iv, p. 168.↩
- French Minister of Finance.↩