In October of last year the French Government decided on its own volition to prohibit the transportation of arms and munitions into China through French Indo-China. The Japanese Government appreciated this friendly attitude and relied upon the sincerity of the French Government for the actual carrying out of that decision.
However, as there was much to be regretted in the manner of executing the policy, our Government repeatedly called the attention of the French Government. Even during this year the Japanese Government demanded the French Government on two occasions to reconsider its attitude.
Each time the French Government promised the enforcement of the prohibition. But according to reliable information reaching us there continues to prevail a situation which by no means agrees with the replies of the French Government. As the result of the capture of Canton which has intercepted the connection of the Chiang Kai-shek régime with Hongkong, the most important of the routes left for the transportation of arms supply to that régime is one through French Indo-China, and China is reported to be now active there. Our Government is therefore gravely concerned with the possible development of the situation.
In view of the above circumstances the Japanese Government has instructed Ambassador Sugimura at Paris to file a protest with the French Government requesting that Government to take appropriate steps immediately to prohibit the transportation of arms and munitions into China through French Indo-China, and stating at the same time that, in case the French Government fails to take such measures, Japan might be compelled in self-defence to take such measures as she deems necessary.
Foreign Minister Prince Konoe today requested the French Ambassador at Tokyo, Mr. Arsène-Henry, to call at the Foreign Office and conveyed to the latter the same views of the Japanese Government mentioned above.