740.0011 P. W./282: Telegram
The Ambassador in Japan (Grew) to the Secretary of State
[Received July 23—6 p.m.]
1067. 1. In the absence of the British Ambassador who is spending the summer in the mountains and is temporarily cut off from Tokyo by typhoon damage to communications, the British Counselor today called on the Acting Vice Foreign Minister, Yamamoto, Chief of the Asiatic Bureau, and said that the Ambassador had been somewhat perturbed by radio reports of the imminent intention of Japan to occupy bases in Indochina and inquired if there was any truth in such reports. The Acting Vice Minister’s face became blank and he tried to change the subject. When Mr. Houstoun Boswall became persistent, Mr. Yamamoto said that he was not permitted to discuss that subject and that the matter had better wait to be taken up by the Ambassador with the Minister for Foreign Affairs.8 All he could say was that “Japan has absolutely no ambitions and if anything does happen in Indochina it will be very peaceful. But I do not believe it [Page 228] will happen”. During the conversation Acting Vice Minister thereupon declined to say or hear another word on the subject. The Counselor derived the distinct impression that Japanese occupation of bases in Indochina has been decided upon.
2. One of my colleagues was today told in strict secrecy by the secretary of influential and well informed Japanese that Japan will occupy bases in Indochina within “8 or 10 days.”
3. The foregoing items are communicated as possibly piecing out other information known to the Department.
- Adm. Teijiro Toyoda.↩