793.94/15978: Telegram
The Consul General at Canton (Myers) to the Secretary of State
[Received June 23—11:20 a.m.]
58. Reference Hong Kong’s 199, June 22, noon, to the Department.73 The Japanese military authorities in Canton yesterday released a statement concerning the landing of Japanese troops near the Hong Kong border. According to this statement, five Japanese detachments [Page 662] landed at Poon early on June 22 and began the occupation of the border area for the purpose of cutting the routes over which supplies from Hong Kong were reaching Chinese forces. It was also stated that, despite the unprecedented difficulties in which it is now placed, Great Britain still pursues the policy of aiding Chiang Kai-shek and that because of this fact operations had to be initiated.
It seems likely that this military movement may be designed primarily to put a stop to the flow of Chinese Government supplies via Hong Kong and to exert pressure in connection with proposed demands that the Burma road be closed to military supplies. However, this movement seems to lend support to the growing belief that the Japanese intend sooner or later to occupy Hong Kong and French Indochina.
Sent to the Department. Repeated to Chungking, Hong Kong and Peiping for Tokyo.
- Not printed.↩