JAPAN AND INDO-CHINA

Press, Volume LXXVI, Issue 23131, 21 September 1940, Page 13

JAPAN AND INDO-CHINA

Mission Leaving.

Hanoi

“CRITICAL STAGE

REACHED”

(CKITED PEESS ASSOCIATION —COPIRIGRT.)

(Received September 20, 11 p.m.)

HANOI, September 20.

At midnight the situation in IndoChina was considered critical, since the Japanese mission announced that it was leaving. General Nishihara made a farewell call on the French Governor (Vice-Admiral Decoux). It is authoritatively stated in Shanghai that the new Japanese demands in Indo-China are in the foim of an ultimatum, which, it is believed, will expire on September 22. It is thought that the demands deal mainly with the granting of permanent naval and air bases. . The evacuation of Japanese from Indo-China began yesterday morning. Vice-Admiral Decoux is making available every facility, there is no reason for an evacuation. A French communique, issued at Hanoi, states; “Negotiations have now reached a delicate phase. Japanese have presented new demands incompatible with the instructions trom Vichy an* with the previous agreemThe Hanoi correspondent of the Associated Press of Great Britain sajs that a Japanese spokesman announced that all Japanese civilian nationals in Indo-China are being /emoved m special trains, beginning to-day, befor the prospective arrival of Japanese the Japanese Government announced that an important meeting was held yesterday in the Emperor s presence, attended by the Prime Minister, key members of the Cabinet, and the Army and the Navy chiefs or staff. At Vichy the French Foreign Minister (M. Baudouin) told American newspapermen yesterday that France was “all alone” in the Far East and should not be judged too severely if her decisions did not please the Western world. France understood that real support could not be expected from America in the event of the Japanese attacking Indo-China, M Baudouin added that France henceforth would remain silent regarding Britain. American. British, and French quarters in Shanghai confidently report that the six French warships which recently passed through the Strait of Gibraltar are en route to Indo-China in accordance with a reported BritishFrench agreement to maintain Indochina’s status quo.

INDEPENDENCE OF LUXEMBURG

GERMAN ASSURANCES

VIOLATED

GRAND DUCHESS MAKES

PROTEST

-.eiutisii ornciii wireless.’(Received September 20, 9 p.m.) RUGBY, September 19. On September 9 a declaration was made by the Government of Luxemburg concerning the violation by Germany of the neutrality and integrity of the Grand Duchy. The full text has now arrived in London. It states; — “In violation of the assurance given at the outbreak of the war to respect the- integrity and neutrality of the Grand Duchy of Luxemburg, the Reich invaded and occupied the Grand Duchy with her troops during the night of May 9-10. The Grand Duchess and her Government left the country as a protest against this act of violence, and for the purpose of freeing their actions from the pressure of the invadex*, and so as to be able to defend the interests of their own country in freedom among other free nations. “Before leaving, the Government gave instructions to the administrative authorities of Luxemburg, who remained in the country with a view to ensuring continuity of civil administration during the military occupation. These measures were in accordance with international law. “Measures decreed since May 10 for the administration of the Grand Duchy soon showed the real intentions of the Reich towards • this country. A few days after the invasion the country was declared enemy territory. and after a sXaort transitional period ttie military administration was replaced by a Gauleiter. This Gauleiter entered the town of Luxemburg at the head of a force of German police. In a speech made on this occasion the Gauleiter proclaimed that Luxemburg’s population was in fact of German character.

“Little by little the Gauleiter suppressed the use of the French language, which for generations had been the official language of the country, and ordered the exclusive use of the German tongue. He declared the constitution to be abolished and released officials from their oath of loyalty to the Grand Duchess. He forbade the use of the terms ‘Grand Duchy’ and ‘country of Luxemburg.* “The Grand Duchess and her Government protest solemnly against these actions, which violate international law and treaties, and the promises given by Germany. They will never recognise their validity. Never in any way, past or present, has the attitude of the Grand Duchess or the Grand Ducal Government, nor the attitude of the people given the slightest justification for this gross injustice committed by the Reich against a little country wishing to liye in peace among its neighbours. The authorities of the Reich have done all they could since May 10 to prevent the Grand Duchess and the Government from making contact with the people of Luxemburg. Nevertheless, the Grand Duchess and her Government know that in making this protest they are acting with the full agreement of the people of Luxemburg, who, if they were free to demonstrate their feelings, would not fail to demonstrate their wish to remain free and independent, as they were proud to do a year ago, when, with universal enthusiasm, they celebrated the independence of the Grand Duchy.”