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THIS DOCUMENT IS THE PROPERTY OF HIS BRITANNIC MAJESTY'S GOVERNMENT).
TO BE KEPT UNDER LOCK & KEY. It is requested that special care may be taken to
ensure the secrecy of this document.
161
SECRET.
This de...
C.O.S. (41) 34.
was considered at Co.S.(+) 22. Meeting. २५
COPY NO.
14TH JANUARY, 1941.
WAR CABINET.
CHIEFS OF STAFF COMMITTEE.
THE FAR EAST:
JAPANESE INTERVENTION IN THAILAND.
Note by the Secretary.
The following Telegram has been received from the Commander-in-Chief, Far East.
GHQFE.182 12/1.
Following for C.0.S. from C. in C. Far East.
Reference para. 8 of my GHQFE 40 of 7/12/40 current development f tension and Pighting on frontier between Thailand and Indo China is likely to create conditions in which Japanese could easily find pretext for military intervention in Thailand should they so wish. Should the Japanese move military forces into Thailand we should have either to accept as fait accompli a strategical development which would entail the most serious consequences for us or issue ultimatum to Japan which might result in war. Consequence of former course would be that throughout Malaya readiness for war would have to be reduced from 5 days to perhaps 24 hours and readiness in Burma would also have to be reduced. Among other things would entail permanent mobilisation of valunteer forces in Malaya. addition our need for land and air reinforcements would become most urgent. I consider it most important that Japan should be convinced that move of military forces into Thailand would be met by ultimatum from us. impression can more easily be conveyed to Japan indirectly from London than from here. From here we could supplemen what is done from London. This unofficial action would not repeat not of course commit H.M.G. to issuing the ultimatum when the situation arose should they judge it undesirable. C. in C. China agrees.
2.
This
The Chiefs of Staff will remember that on 15th August, 1940, they, in their Far Eastern Appreciation
In
+
C,c.s. (40) 1023.
c.o.s. (40) 592. (Revise).
~1-
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