La Rencontre de deux destins. L'expansion vers le sud du Japon et l'Indochine française en juin 1940

Abstract

1940, the 29th of June, General Nishihara Issaku, chief of a Japanese observation mission, lands at Hanoi : the process that will lead to the Japanese occupation of French Indochina, takes shape, as Japan realizes that the collapse of France in Europe, might be a godsend regarding to the Japanese aims in Asia. General Georges Catroux, governor-general of the colony, helpless, gives up to Japanese demands in order to keep Indochina to France. He closes the border between China and Indochina, and accepts a Japanese observation mission whose task will be to negotiate the occupation of northern Indochina. The main cause of this new Japanese policy is an half-century old project : the expansion southward. The expansion southward is then considered by the majority of Japanese leaders as the only way to alleviate the isolation of their country without returning to the hated status quo which prevailed before the outburst of war with China in 1937. The position of French Indochina as the first step on the road to South-East Asia, and the defeated and isolated France in June 1940, were the main causes of Japanese decision to execute of the long cherished project.