JAPANESE ATTACK ON THAILAND EXPECTED

Auckland Star, Volume LXXII, Issue 282, 28 November 1941, Page 7

JAPANESE ATTACK ON THAILAND EXPECTED

WITHIN FEW DAYS

Believed Answer To U.S. Terms For Far East Peace

United Press Association.—Cojiyrig-ht.

Rec. 2 p.m. WASHINGTON, Nov. 27.

Authoritative sources fear that Japan s answer to the American terms for a settlement will be an attack against Thailand within a few days, says the United Press. Reports reaching Washington state that the Japanese are massing troops in north and south Indo-China, apparently for offensive moves on Thailand and the Burma Road.

Large numbers of troops and guns have been landed at Saigon in the last five days, while the Japanese have purchased boats up and down the coast. The Japanese Navy appears ready for action.

The Japanese Domei news agencv says that the terms handed to the Japanese envoys in Washington pffer little hope of bridging the gap m Japanese - American problems. There is little room for hope that the conversations will be prolonged.

Bangkok radio for the second IP succession stressed Thailand s danger and the tense Pacific situation, and urged calm preparedness ana avoidance of squabbles as it is feared a minor incident might easily develop into a large scale conflagration.

The Domei representative at Nanking says that Wang Ching-wei, speaking at the anniversary of Japanese recognition of his puppet regime, pledged whole-hearted collaboration with Japan regardless of international developments.

The Japanese newspaper Asahi publishes a dispatch from its Hanoi correspondent which accuses Indochina of a change of attitude to Japan as the result of negotiations in the United States. "Indo-Chinas attitude is that of betrayal on some points, suggesting lack of sincerity to Japan, states this correspondent. It is reported that Mr. K. Yoshizawa, Ambassador to Indo-China. has strongly protested against a communique issued by the French Colonial authorities that recent arrests by Japanese were alleged to have been made without a reason.

The Japanese authorities at Saigon are protesting to the French authorities regarding the bombing of the United States Consulate, also the bombing of a Japanese oil tank. The Japanese protested against the failure of the French to control Chungking agents.