THAILAND AND INDO-CHINA

Evening Star, Issue 23816, 21 February 1941, Page 7

THAILAND AND INDO-CHINA

JAPANESE COMPLAINT BRITAIN HELPING FRENCH Press Association —By Telegraph—Copyright TOKIO, February 20. (Received February 21, at 11.15 a.in.)' Violating the armistice agreement, Indo-Chinese troops along the border fired on Thai troops on February 18, says a Japanese report, quoting a Bangkok newspaper, which adds that the Thai forces did not reply. The Dome! news agency stated that there were mounting indications of the rapid drift of the Indo-China authorities to the pro-British camp of General de Gaulle. A survey revealed the successive adoption by the French authorities of economic and military measures designed to checkmate Japanese influence in south-east Asia. This tendency was increasing as a result of the strong British and American, reaction to Japanese mediation in the Thailaud-Indo-China conflict, coupled with the massing of British, Indian, and Australian forces on Thailand’s southern and western borders. The British, aiding French military preparations, had sent 200 planes to Saigon from Singapore. The Britisli were also sending ammunition to China via IndoChina with the connivance of the French.

JAPANESE DEMANDS BEAK-UP OF PEACE CONFERENCE RESULTS TOKIO, February 20. (Received February 21, at 11.15 a.in.)' The Shanghai correspondent of the Associated Press reports that Japan had made such sweeping military and economic demands on’Thailand and French Indo-China at the Peace Conference in Tokio that the proceedings were brought to a standstill.

ADJUSTMENT 0F RELATIONS JAPAN’S WITHDRAWAL FROM AXIS PACT A CONDITION TOKIO, February 20. The 1 Yomiuri ’ gives prominence to a special message from Washington stating that Japan’s withdrawal from the tripartite alliance is a United States condition for an adjustment of Japan-ese-American diplomatic relations. The ‘ Yomiuri’s ’ special correspondent in Berlin said that Germany was watchful against Anglo-American manoeuvrevS toward undermining the Axis.

AUSTRALIAN PRECAUTIONS FURTHER MEASURES TO BE TAKEN SYDNEY. February 20. After a meeting of the Advisory Wap Council to-day, the Minister for the Army, Mr P. C. Spender, announced that further measures would be taken to ensure increased preparedness to meet any emergency that might arise. These measures in so far as they affected the training of troops would ensure that half the militia was in camp at one time.

BRITISH SUBJECTS IN THAILAND MINISTER'S WARNING BANGKOK, February 20. (Received February 21, at 9.10 a.m.) The British Minister informed the Thai Government that British subjects had not been ordered to leave Thailand. He had merely suggested the dcsirability of Britisli subjects arranging, for their wives and children to leave Thailand for the present.

JAPANESE AIR AND MILITARY MOVEMENTS

CHUNGKING. February 30. (Received February 21, at 11 a.m.) The military spokesman said that over half the Japanese air force on the Asiatic mainland was concentrated in Hainan, Indo-China, and Kwantung* He added that the Japanese were transferring the bulk of their troops in Central China to Formosa and Hainan to assist possible operations in the South China seas.

REPORTS OF CRISIS GROUNDLESS

AUSTRALIAN MINISTER REASSURED

TOKIO. February 20. (Received February 21. at 11 a.m.) Air Chayshi informed Sir John Latham (Australian Minister to Japan) that reports of a Far Eastern crisis wore groundless. It is reported that he also urged Australian collaboration not to aggravate the situation.

AMERICAN PASSPORTS

PRECAUTIONARY MEASURES WASHINGTON, February 20. (Received February 21. at 10.30 a.m.) The United States is tightening its control over Americans abroad with a view to eliminating forged or stolon passports, and also to determine possible points in subversive activities. Orders have been issued requiring all persons holding American passports to renew them before April 10. after which time the present passports will be obsolete.