811.20 Defense(M)/3339: Telegram
The Secretary of State to the Ambassador in France (Leahy)
751. Your 1228, September 26, 3 p.m. The French and Indochinese authorities are thoroughly cognizant of this Government’s desire and earnest efforts to obtain rubber in the face of various difficult conditions imposed. There is, however, no disposition under present circumstances to meet any new conditions of any nature whatsoever in order to obtain the relatively small quantity of Indochinese rubber now presumed to be available for sale to the United States. As to the Japanese demands on Vichy with respect to rubber, the Department is not impressed with the vigor of French resistance either now or in the past.