751G.94/374²⁄₇
Memorandum of Conversation, by the Chief of the Division of Far Eastern Affairs (Hamilton)
The Question of the Japanese Government’s Desire To Acquire Military and Naval Bases in French Indochina
In a telephone conversation with the Secretary today, the Secretary suggested for consideration certain thoughts as follows:
1. The acquirement by Japan of military and naval bases in French Indochina would constitute a menace to the Philippine Islands and to peaceful commerce with a very important section of the world, the products of which are of special importance to the United States and many other nations. Such acquirement would also constitute a step prejudicial to the peace and stability of the whole Pacific area.
2. There is no danger to Japan from anyone and any thought on Japan’s part of acquiring bases in French Indochina because of that factor would not be warranted. The British had no aggressive intention against Japan, the United States had none, the Dutch had none, the French had none, and there is certainly no reason to believe that the Soviet Union is planning aggressive action against Japan.
On this point I commented to the Secretary that while our attitude on this matter was entirely logical and justifiable from our point of view, there were many Japanese who honestly and sincerely believed that a possible combination of the United States and the Soviet Union, or a combination of Great Britain and the Soviet Union, definitely would constitute a menace to Japan. I said that many of these Japanese had very narrow concepts and ideas. I said that it would be very difficult to convince Japanese leaders that they were not in danger at this time as a result of political and military developments in the Far East which some of them viewed as steps directed toward the encirclement of Japan.
3. The Secretary suggested as a third point that Japan could get everything she wants in the way of expanded trade and prosperity for her people by going forward with a peaceful settlement with the United States. The Secretary mentioned that he had had constantly in mind, following any peaceful settlement with the United States, endeavoring to bring about similar peaceful settlements between Japan and Great Britain and Japan and the Netherlands.
[Page 330]The Secretary commented that the only warrant for Japan proceeding to acquire military and naval bases in French Indochina was as a preliminary to going south.
The Secretary said that he thought it was very important, in view of developments, that we had already approached the Japanese Government twice in regard to reports that the Japanese Government intended to acquire military and naval bases in French Indochina.
The Secretary indicated that he thought that we should allow the new Japanese Government to get its feet on the ground and then we should continue our effort to cause the Japanese Government to see that its own best interests did not lie in the direction of further pursuit of a policy of aggression but rather along peaceful lines.