[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.]
109
(F.8234/150/10).
To FRANCH
Cypher telegram to Sir E. Phipps (Paris).
Foreign Office, October 23rd 1937.
10.30 p.m.
No. 216.
Your telegram No. 628 Saving [cf the 20th October. Supply of arms to China over French railways in Indo-China].
I feel strongly that the line taken by Monsieur Léger is
unreasonable and that you should take the matter up with Monsieur Delbos, It is improbable that, if munitions of war were transported over the railways, the Japanese would risk involving themselves in international complications by attempting to attack the lines within French territory. Any attacks which
might be made would, as in the case of the Canton-Kowloon railway, take place within Chinese territory. Bearing this in mind, I do not anticipate that honsieur Delbos will raise the question of military support of France in the event of a Japanese attack. Should he nevertheless do so, you should counter by pointing out that we have not asked the French Government for military support in the event of an attack on
the Canton-Kowloon railway.
No comments yet.
Private notes are available after approval.