ABSTRACT
Although America was still neutral yet her mighty strength was being. used to help the Allies. Her support was becoming more and more important, for the growing menace from Japan was threatening to extend hostilities into the Indian Ocean, through which ran our supplies for the Army in Egypt. On 27th July 1941, Japanese troops were reported at Saigon, French Indo-China. The next day, landings began, and on . the 29th a protocol providing for the joint defence by the Axis Powers of Indo-China was signed at Vichy. Japanese occupation of land, sea and air bases in Indo-China was followed by diplomatic pressure on the adjoining state of Thailand (Siam) in preparation for the invasion of that country five months later.
