INDOCHINA FORCE

Evening Post, Volume CXXXII, Issue 38, 13 August 1941, Page 8

INDOCHINA FORCE

JAPAN MAKING READY

WATCHING EVENTS

(By Telegraph—Press Association —Copyright.) ( (Rec. 1.30 p.m.) LONDON, August 12. It is learned on good authority that the Japanese High Command is planning to place 180,000 troops in Indo-China. The majority of these will be stationed in West Cambodia, adjoining the Thailand border, says the Saigon bureau of the Associated Press of America. A "New York Times" message from: Chungking says that Mr. Wang Shihchieh, Minister of Publicity, told the Press that more tfian economic sanctions against Japan by the United States and Britain would be necessary to keep the Japanese out of Thailand, which appeared to be resisting Japanese aggression, but would be successful only if supported by the United States and Britain. TOKIO RESENTMENT. In Tokio, the "Kokumin Shimbun" j said that the United States and Britain j had been warned that any further pres- ' sure on Japan would bring nothing but the worst situation, and that Japan would go ahead with grim resolve towards the establishment of her sphere in East Asia. Well-informed circles in London are unable to see any prospect of a last- ; ing and peaceful settlement emerging from the present crisis. They believe that if Japan does not press the pre- . sent crisis to the point of war immediately she will at least remain poised and ready to pounce when she thinks the time is more opportune. The "New York Herald-Tribune" says that if Russia collapses or Vichy agrees to help to make the South Atlantic a Gei-man playground, then Japan will surge onward. VLADIVOSTOK QUESTION. The Shanghai bureau of the American Associated Press reports that the army spokesman, General T. Akiyama, j stated that his Government was deeply concerned over the possibility that Vladivostok might become America's first line of defence against Japan, and added that. Japan was determined to end the "China affair" successfully either by annihilation of the Chungking regime or by its incorporation in the Nanking Puppet Government. A solution was closer, he said, because the quality of the Chinese front-line troops was deteriorating. Japan was in no particular hurry to end the China war. She did not want to speed up natural processes. Since Jaoaft's aim was reconstruction, and not destruction, it would take some time to be realised.