Office of the Historian

740.0011 P.W./571: Telegram

The Consul at Hanoi (Reed) to the Secretary of State

Hanoi, October 17, 1941—4 p.m.
[Received October 18—2:59 a.m.]

159. Reference to my telegram No. 157, October 14, 11 a.m. According to reasonably reliable sources, the Japanese have landed approximately 2,000 troops at Haiphong within the last 24 hours. I am also informed that the Japanese have recently requested that the Government General allow them to organize and manage the railway transportation of Japanese troops throughout Indochina, a request which has been refused up to now. The news of the resignation of the Konoye Government10 has increased appreciably the apprehension here of further Japanese moves in this area.

Sent to Cavite for repetition to the Department, Chungking, Pei-ping, Hong Kong, Shanghai. Shanghai please repeat to Tokyo.

Reed
  1. Concerning the fall of the Japanese Cabinet, see telegram No. 1643, October 16, 9 p.m., from the Ambassador in Japan, vol. iv, p. 511.↩