> Gil Hamilton wrote: > > > Hmm. "They" presumably refers to "Japan" despite the disagreement in > > number. Still, I don't recall Japan having "walked over France," so > > I can't be sure - maybe you mean the Axis powers?. > > She could be referring to the Japanese takeover of French Indochina.
> Marc de Piolenc > Yes, I was referring to Indochina. The night of Pearl Harbor, Japanese troops pretty much issued an ultimatum by surrounding French garrisons. The Vichy government accepted Japan as a defensive partner, Roosevelt was negotiating the Indochina issue, (but shortly thereafter froze Japanese assets in the U.S.). The French presence drew off troops, so they probably deserve more credit than they got. However, they should have fought and taken to the jungle. As the allies should have fought in 1940, instead of negotiating. They surprised us too, of course. ~Aimee
