JAP. DICTATION

Gisborne Herald, Volume LXVIII, Issue 20492, 28 February 1941, Page 5

JAP. DICTATION

RESISTANCE CALL INDO-CHINA AIM THAILAND DISPUTE TOKIO’S WAY OUT FORCING AGREEMENT Thl. Copyright—Uni tod Press Assn.) (Heed. Feb. 28,'11.30 a.m.) LONDON, Feb. 27. All Japanese army, naval, official consular and civilian representatives in Saigon to-day held an emergency conference at the Japanese Consulate to consider the orders received from Tokio to prepare for the possible withdrawal of Japanese. Well-informed circles in Saigon state that the attitude of French Indochina is stiffening with a growing bitterness against Japan, rather than against Thailand, which is regarded as a puppet. The Indo-China Government has prohibited rubber exports, except to Japan. This coincides with the authoritative report that Japan is demanding over 25,000 tons of rubber annually from Indo-China. It is pointed out that if Japan’s demands were met it would prevent Indo-China obtaining dollar currency, since the United States is the only rubber market left and also prevent IndoChina paying for American'oil. The Mayor of Saigon has appealed to all native and French able-bodied men to join the civil defence corps as soon as possible. Dictating, Not Mediating

The president of the Cochin-China Colonial Council, writing to the newspaper De Feche, says: “The Japanese are not mediating but dictating.” He urged non-acceptance of the Thailand demands.

Colonel Koike, the chief of the Japanese mission in Indo-China, said: “There is only one way out. We must make Indo-China and Thailand agree. The Thailand demands may look large from a glance at the map, but actually, I think it is quite proper that Thailand should obtain these territories.” Colonel Koike repeatedly reiterated: "Japan does not want to fight Britain.” He added that he had received reports from Hanoi that the United States Government is planning to assist IndoChina against Thailand.

The Domei agency in Shanghai reports that the Tokio Government has instructed Baron Yasu Hayashi, the Japanese Consul-General in Hanoi to order the immediate evacuation of Japanese residents of French IndoChina in view of" the “threatened breakdown of the Thailand-Indo-China peace negotiations.” It is believed in Shanghai that Tokio received a refusal from Vichy of Japan’s mediation proposal. A Tokio message says it is reliably reported that the Japanese Foreign Office has ordered Japanese nationals in Indo-China to prepare for speedy evacuation in the event of the peace negotiations being disrupted. It is believed in Tokio that the success or failure of the peace conference will be determined within 48 hours. Prepare For Evacuation The Tokio paper Nichi Nichi Shimbun said that Japan’s decision not to reconsider the final mediation plan had been taken “irrespective of what manoeuvres third Powers may make and what excuses the Thailand or the Indo-Chinese delegates may offer.” The Nichi Nichi Shimbun said that Japan would not reconsider the “final" mediation plan reported to have been submitted to Thailand on Monday. Japan was determined to make a settlement this week at the latest, because further delay “might considerably set back the realisation of lasting peace in east Asia.” The main points of the plan are described as, firstly, the return to Thailand of Luang, Frabang, Pakse and West Mekong; and secondly, the return >of the western Cambodia district, including Siemreap, Sisopom and Batiambang. Troops of Chiang The Bangkok correspondent of the Tokio paper Asahi Shimbun says that 20,000 of Marshal Chiang Kai-Shek’s regular troops, with large supplies of cannon and tanks, have completed an advance into Burma’s Shan State in order to fill the gap caused by the latest shift of Indian troops stationed in Burma to southern Malaya. In addition many of Chungking’s “fifth columnists” are said to have entered Burma. The Nichi Nichi Shimbun said this represents the strengthening of the British military demonstration along the entire Thailand border and also the execution of the first step in the British and Chinese manoeuvres against Japan. The official spokesman of the Chungking Government has denied the report

of the Asahi Shimbun.