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troops to Indo-China, I am informed by American Military authority recently in China, means that she would have the greatest difficulty in collecting any further expeditionary force with the necessary shipping for any adventure towards Singapore or the Dutch East Indies if such an attack was likely to meet with strong resistance. I think that much the most important thing we could do immediately is to agree to non-political staff talks about the possibilities of common defence for Singapore, Dutch East Indies, Australasia and I presume the Philippines, which Mr. Hull suggested. As always in this country it is ruch easier for the Administration to act strongly in a crisis than it is for it to enter into any promises beforehand as to how it will act if a crisis arises.
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