DRUM TO GENERAL DE GAULLE

Dominion, Volume 34, Issue 127, 22 February 1941, Page 11

DRUM TO GENERAL DE GAULLE

French Indo-China BITTER COMPLAINTS IN TOKIO LONDON, February 2U. '1 he Dotnei (Japanese) news agency states that there are mounting indications of a rapid drill by the authorities in Ifrench IndoChina to the pro-British camp ot General de Gaulle. A survey has revealed the adoption by the French authorities of a succession oi economic and military measures designed to checkmate Japanese influence in south-east Asia. The tendency is increasing as a result ol strong Anglo-American reaction to Japanese mediation in the conflict between Thailand and Indo-China. coupled with the massing of British, Indian and Australian forces on Thailand’s southern and western borders.

The British were aiding French military preparations and bad sent 200 planes to Saigon from Singapore. The British were also sending ammunition to China via Indo-China. with the connivance of tiie French. Tiie Dotnei agency makes a bitter attack on tiie Freneli Indo-China authorities, accusing them of antiJapanese activities ami of collaboration witli Britain and Marshal Chiang Kai-shek. The agency alleges that a French staff officer negotiated for the purchase of tiie 200 aircraft from Singapore and in return supplied Britain with information of supposed Japanese designs on Singapore. Conference In Tokio.

Another Dotnei report says that there lias been a conference between the Japanese Government and the High Command at which tiie latest international developments were discussed.

Also from Tokio comes the news that the Vice-Minister for tiie Navy has suggested that officers and crews of the Japanese merchant marine should be placed on the naval reserve list as soon as possible. The Shanghai correspondent of tiie Associated Press reports that Japan made such sweeping military and economic demands on Thailand and French Indo-China at tiie peace conference in Tokio that the proceedings were brought to a standstill. Indo-Chinese troops along the border, violating the armistice agreement, fired on Thai troops on February 18, says a Japanese report, quoting a Bangkok newspaper, which adds Hint Thai forces did not reply. The military .spokesman in Chungking said that over half the Japanese air force on the Asiatic mainland is concentrated in Hainan. Indo-China, and Kwantung. He added that the Japanese are transferring tiie bulk of their troops in Central China to Formosa and Hainan to assist in possible overseas operations south of Chiun. Position In Thailand.

Tiie Britisli Minister in Bangkok informed the Thai Government that British subjects had not been ordered to leave Thailand. The authorities had merely suggested the desirability of British subjects arranging for their wives and children to leave Thailand for the present.