This Document is the Property of His Britannic Majesty's Government, and should be returned to the Foreign Office if not required for official use.]
83
(F.8551/130/10).
To INDO-CHINA.
Cypher telegram to Mr.
Foreign Office.
Sharman. (Saigon).
29th October, 1937.
7.00.p.m.
No. 1.
Saving.
The French Government have decided to ban the transport of
munitions of war by railway from Indo-China into China. As His
Majesty's Government have refused similarly to close the Canton-
Kowloon Railway, is Majesty's Ambassador at Paris has, on my
instructions, endeavoured to persuade the French Government to
reverse their decision. Both M. Léger and the Minister for
Foreign Affairs have alleged as one of the reasons for this
capitulation the danger of the blowing up (by Japanese agents) of
bridges, tunnels, etc., of which there are a very large number,
which they regard as more imminent than direct Japanese air attack
on the railway within French territory.
I should have thought that the French railways were much
less vulnerable to sabotage than the portion of the Canton-
Kowloon Railway which runs through British leased territory and
which remains intact. I should nevertheless be glad of your
comments by air mail.
Repeated to Bangkok Saving No. 7.