740.0011 European War 1939/13606: Telegram
The Ambassador in France (Leahy) to the Secretary of State
[Received August 2—7:01 a.m.]
970. Department’s telegram 612, July 31, noon. I discussed this morning with Marshal Petain and Admiral Darlan together French policy in Indochina and set forth to them the views contained in the telegram under reference. Darlan was much annoyed. When he first told us of the Japanese plans with respect to Indochina (my telegram 888, July 16, 5 p.m.), he said, he had hoped we would act immediately but we did nothing. He had hoped that a squadron of our ships from Manila would steam into Saigon harbor and anchor. Such action he believed would have prevented further Japanese pressure and he would have been glad to have given authorization for such a visit of our ships had we so asked. He could not of course, he said, give us any such indication at that time. He further “resented bitterly” our present criticism of French policy when we ourselves have done nothing to restrain the Japanese even though it is to our interest.
“It is always the same story”, he went on, “the United States is too late. When we asked for help last year, first in July and then at the time of the Thailand aggression, we got none. (Without any direct evidence in support thereof, it is my opinion that a decision had been made to admit Japan to French Indochina before Admiral Darlan on July 16 informed me of the demand.) When we tried to rearm to defend our Colony it was the British who stopped us. We were faced in the light of these Japanese demands with three possible solutions: One, to fight. We could not, because we are at the end of our resources and have no means of fighting after Syria. Secondly, merely to accept the Japanese demands. This I did not wish to do as it would have put us in the Axis. Third, to adopt the formula which we have of common defense of the Empire. The Japanese have for the past year treated us with perfect correctness and have now agreed to recognize our sovereignty over the Colony. This is in marked contrast to the British whose sole aim, as has been amply [Page 247] demonstrated in Equatorial Africa, in New Caledonia and in Syria, is to take parts of the French Empire. They talk about giving the Syrians liberty, but there are difficulties in their way and already we hear reports of an impending revolt there against them. They do not recognize our sovereignty when they take our territory and as to Indochina, if they had gone there, they would not give it back.”
I pointed out to the Marshal (who gave no indication of his feelings other than an occasional nod during Darlan’s at times bitter denunciation of the British) the existence of the danger of an attack against the United States territory launched from Indochinese bases should the situation grow worse. He admitted that but said that France is helpless and that he himself “is not a free agent,” occupied as the country is. To my inquiry as to whether he thought the Japanese would keep their promise to respect French sovereignty in Indochina, the Marshal replied, “We had to take a chance on that.” Darlan added, “I do not know. But Churchill promised on June 12, 1940, and the Marshal heard him, that if we had to seek an armistice he would understand our position and his friendship toward France would undergo no change. The sequel of this was Mers-El-Kebir.30 At least there is a possibility of saving something for France in Indochina, whereas to fight, without outside help, would have meant the certain loss of the colony.”
[Here follows section on military developments in Europe and Africa; last paragraph of telegram is printed in volume II, under France, section entitled “Concern of the United States Over Franco-German Collaboration and the Matter of Furnishing Food and Medical Relief to Unoccupied France”.]
- Attack by British Navy on French warships near Oran, Algeria, July 3, 1940; for correspondence, see Foreign Relations, 1940, vol. ii , under France, section entitled “Concern of the United States Over the Disposition of the French Fleet After the Germans Invaded France”.↩