JAPAN ASKS FOR VICHY’S REPLY

Dominion, Volume 34, Issue 137, 6 March 1941, Page 7

JAPAN ASKS FOR VICHY’S REPLY

Mediation Proposals THAI-INDO-CHINA DISPUTE (By Telegraph.—Press Assn. —Copyright.) (Received March 5, 9 p.m.) TOKIO, March 5. Japan is reported to have asked Vichy to submit a reply to the mediation proposals in the Indo-China-Thailand dispute by noon today. The Domei news agency, in a broadcast, said it was reliably understood that the French Ambassador, M. Charles Arsene-Henry, and the Foreign Minister, Mr. Matsuoka, failed to reach a complete agreement of views when they conferred late yesterday and indicated that the two would meet again, probably this morning. v The agency said that the Cabinet Information Office has issued the following communique:—“The French Ambassador called on the Foreign Minister yesterday and held an important interview regarding the Japanese plan for settlement of the border dispute between Thailand and French IndoChina.” The Foreign Office spokesman, Mr. Ishii, said that after receiving the French reply the Japanese Government made minor revisions in the mediation plan. Consequently the French and Thai delegates had requested fresh instructions from their home Governments. Modified Proposal. Mr. Ishii announced prior to the meeting of Mr. Matsuoka and M. Arsene-Henry that Japan had presented a modified proposal and was determined to complete the negotiations on the mediation plan before the armistice ends-on Friday. After the meeting there were indications that the Japanese considered the result of the meeting to be another setback to their efforts to reach a swift settlement of the controversy.

Mr. Ishii revealed that the British Ambassador, Sir Robert visited the Vice-Foreign Minister, Mr. Ohashi, in connexion with the warning to Britain by the spokesman of the Japanese army in Formosa against cooperation with Chinese forces in Burma and categorically denied that Chungking, troops had entered Burma. Asked in Shanghai whether China and Britain were planning a military pact the British Ambassador in China, Sir Archibald Clark Kerr, replied: “That is nonsense.” Loss of Territory. According to a Saigon message, the Chief of Staff of the Japanese forces in Indo-China, Colonel Koike, said: “The French and Japanese delegates will sign the peace treaty today or tomorrow. Vichy has agreed in principle to the Thai and Japanese demands. Indo-China will lose some territory, but not as much as was originally demanded.” Colonel Koike complained that French soldiers were terrorizing the Japanese, several of whom had received injuries. He said that Japan was continuing to ship large amounts of arms and munitions to Thailand.