مجموعة ٨٤/٥(٥) "رحلات جوية للطائرات العسكرية الفرنسية فوق الهند وبورما وهي في طريقها إلى سانغون" [و‎‎١‎٥‎٨] (٣٩٤/٣١٥)

OUTWARD TELEGRAM
Secret
Cypher OTP
DEPARTMEHTAL Ho.' 1
FROM FOREIGN OFFICE TO SAIGON
No. 13
8th January 1917. D. 2.05 p.m. 9th January 19A7.
Repeated to Singapore No« 83
rrrrrr
SECRET
Your telegram No* 15 [of January 7th: French
aircraft for Indo-China].
My immediately following telegram is a repetition
of my telegram No? 19 of the 3rd January to Paris#
2# Clearance has now been obtained from Burma
for this flight, provided aircraft proceed singly.
3. The Governor of Burma states that sympathy
for both Viet Nam and for Indonesia runs strong and
that the measures at present being taken by the French
authorities in Indo-China are subject to considerable
criticism in Burma# Should it become generally known
that the Government of Burma had allowed unrestricted
passage of French military aircraft through Burma the
Government would be placed in a gravely embarrassing
position, possibly to the extent of prejudicing the
constitutional negotiations about to be held in t e
United Kingdom. The Governor s consent in this case
was given reluctantly after it had been pointed out
that no alternative route was possible#
1# Difficulties are also likely to arise in
India for similar reasons, particularly in view of <
Pandit Nehru’s press statement of January 7th deploring
French action in Indo-China.
5. You should let High Commissioner know of
strength of feeling in India and Burma. ^ u ha Y e been
placed in a position of some difficulty by the too
ready assumption that aircraft for operational^purposes
can pass freely across Indian and Burmese territory.