740.0011 P. W./354: Telegram
The Ambassador in France (Leahy) to the Secretary of State
[Received 10:35 p.m.]
955. We asked Rochat this afternoon if there was anything which he could tell us concerning the extent of military [measures?] which the Japanese proposed to take in Indochina and he replied evasively, saying that the Japanese had “presented no formal indications”. The details, he said, would be worked out “on the spot”. He added that stories circulating that Japanese troops in Indochina would rise to the figure of 150,000 were “highly exaggerated”.
We pointed out the dangerous precedent which “common defense” of Indochina by French and Japanese would constitute for any similar Franco-German “common defense” of French Africa. He replied with obvious embarrassment that he was well aware of that aspect of the situation and suggested wryly that we should not cross that bridge for the time being.
Rochat denied reports here that five Japanese troop transports have arrived at Saigon under naval convoy. He said that there are no indications of any military reaction as yet on the part of the Chinese.
An official of the Ministry of Colonies told an American correspondent that Japanese “defense” aspirations in Indochina will involve the stationing of some 40,000 troops in the Cap Saint Jacques area, the building of new air bases in the colonies and the occupation of existing ones around Saigon, the increase of Japanese troops in Haiphong to 10,000 and the establishment of some sort of naval base at Camranh Bay.
Repeated to Algiers.