TENSION IN THAILAND

Dominion, Volume 35, Issue 59, 3 December 1941, Page 7

TENSION IN THAILAND

Report Of Threatening Frontier Moves LONDON, December 1. Bangkok reports that Thai newspapers said today that troops of IndoChina, supported by planes, were manoeuvring near the Thailand frontier “under alien officers.” "Our neighbours have already fixed their bayonets," said one newspaper. The Associated Press quoted qualified observers as- attaching particular significance today to a statement by Bangkok radio that Thailand would welcome the assistance of friendly Powers if forced to fight for her independence. Military reports have estimated that 100,000 Japanese troops are now in Indo-China and reinforcements are said to be arriving constantly. The American Consulate at Bangkok again advised Americans living in Thailand to be prepared to leave in the event of an emergency. Bangkok radio, commenting on the foreign reports that a Japanese attack on Thailand was to be expected in a few days, asserted, “Thailand will never be attacked by Japanese troops,” Japanese Face-Saver? Shanghai reports that military circles there discount any move against Siberia since the Japanese forces are at present in winter barracks and Russia has not shown any signs of collapse; therefore it is believed Japan will be very cautions toward Russia till the spring. A move against Thailand would not give economic advantages, but would be a springboard against Malaya in the future and also a face-saving device satisfying home opinion and offsetting the collapse of the Washington negotiations. Some people in informed circles, the message says, believe that Japan will prepare completely for the invasion of Thailand and then await the Nazi capture of Moscow or developments in Libya before moving,- when Britain and America might be distracted by a possible Russian collapse.