[Secret]
From: Canton
To: Tokyo July 14, 1941.
Purple
#255.
To
be kept secret within the Department.
Re
my #253[a].
Subsequent
information from the military officials to the Attaché is as follows:
1.
The recent general mobilization order expressed the irrevocable resolution of
Japan to put an end to Anglo-American assistance in thwarting her natural
expansion and her indomitable intention to carry this out, if possible, with
the backing of the Axis but, if necessary, alone. Formalities, such as dining the
expeditionary force and saying farewell to them, have been dispensed with. That
because we did not wish to arouse greatly the feelings of the Japanese populace
and because we wished to face this new war with a calm and cool attitude.
2.
The immediate object of our occupation of French Indo-Chin will be to achieve
our purposes there. Secondly, its purpose is when the international situation
is suitable, to launch therefrom a rapid attack. This venture we will carry out
in spite of any difficulties which may arise. We will endeavor to the last to
occupy French Indo-China peacefully but, if resistance is offered, we will
crush it by force, occupy the country and set up martial law. After the
occupation of French Indo-China, next on our schedule is the sending of an
ultimatum to the Netherlands Indies. In the seizing of Singapore the Navy will
play the principal part. As for the Army, in seizing Singapore it will need
only one division and in seizing the Netherlands Indies, only two. In the main,
through the activities of our air arm (in your city, the Spratley Islands,
Parao, Thaiese Singora, Portuguese Timor and French Indo-China) and our
submarine fleet (in the South Seas mandate islands, Hainan Island and French
Indo-China) we will once and for all crush Anglo-American military power and
their ability to assist, in any schemes against us.
3.
The troops soon to occupy French Indo-China will be reorganized as the 25th
Army Corps (one Army Corps consists of four divisions) and also the 30th Army
Corps, consisting of the South China forces, which will be assigned to special
duty with airplanes, tanks,
Page
3
and
howitzers. General IIDA (the IIDA Army mentioned in preceding telegrams has
been changed to the Nishimura detachment) will be placed in command and general
military headquarters will be set up in Saigon. All preparations have been
made. The ship fees have been paid and the expedition will soon proceed from
here.
Army 19731 Trans. 7-19-41 (5)
[a] Not available.
(EXHIBITS OF JOINT COMMITTEE , EXHIBIT NO. 1 INTERCEPTED DIPLOMATIC MESSAGES SENT BY THE JAPANESE GOVERNMENT BETWEEN JULY l AND DECEMBER 8, 1941)