MOST IMMEDIATE [BRONX]

President [2] sent for British Ambassador [3] late this afternoon
to say that he was telegraphing Japanese Emperor (text follows in
my immediate following telegram [4]). President said that if he
received no answer from Japanese Emperor by Monday evening
December 8th Washington time he would publish text of his message
that evening and that on Tuesday afternoon or evening he would
give 'warning' to Japanese Government and suggests that in these
circumstances British and others give their warnings on equivalent
of Wednesday morning Washington time.

The above time table is liable to be speeded up if the Japanese
move more quickly.

The President said that he was sending a confidential message to
the Thai Prime Minister [5] saying that the United States
Government would regard it as a 'hostile act' if Japan attacked
Thailand, Netherlands East Indies, Malaya or Burma.

News is being published tonight here of two large heavily escorted
Japanese convoys (totalling 35 ships escorted by 8 cruisers and
numerous destroyers) having been seen this morning to S.E. of
Point Camau (the southern point of Indo-China) steaming westward
towards Gulf of Siam.

American estimates of numbers of Japanese troops in Southern Indo-
China are also being given to press tonight.

British Ambassador tells me that the President does not believe
that the Japanese will make an aggressive move as soon as the
Secretary of State [6] does.

CASEY