VICHY STAND

Gisborne Herald, Volume LXVIII, Issue 20493, 1 March 1941, Page 5

VICHY STAND

ANSWER TO JAPS. LIMITS REACHED CONCESSIONS TO SIAM TOKIO IMPATIENCE PROCRASTINATION CRY (Elec. Tel. Copyright—United Press Assn.) (Reed. March 1, 9 a.m.) LONDON, Feb. 28. The Vichy Government spokesman, referring yesterday to the Japanese mediation in the dispute between French Indo-China and Thailand, said that France had laid down the maximum concessions she would make to Thailand. France would not go an inch beyond them. He stated that the French were massing troops on the Indo-China frontier ready to resume hostilities if Thailand insisted on the territorial demands. It was reported yesterday that Japan hacl delivered an ultimatum to French Indo-China demanding the acceptance of Japan’s final proposal of mediation in the Thailand border dispute by midnight on Friday. The Japanese Foreign Office notified Vichy that unless a lavoufaDie reply was received the matter would pass to the of the military officers in Indo-China. Policy of “Procrastination” At midnight Tokio reported that France 1 had not replied to the Japanese ultimatum. » The Tokio newspaper Asahi Shimbun said yesterday that the negotiations yesterday and to-day would deterhiine the success qr failure of the peace parleys. The Japanese Government Had decided definitely to reject the French policy of procrastination. The Japanese Government spokesman, Mr. Ishii, told foreign correspondents in Tokio to-day that the situation in regard to the mediation by apan in the dispute between Thailand and French Indo-China was most critical. “We are not concerned about a war of nerves,” he said. “We are really preparing.” He denied that an ultimatum had been submitted to the French authorities. He also denied a report that nine Japanese warships had gone to Saigon. Respect for Integrity Mr. Ishii admitted that Japan had promised to respect Indo-Chlna’s territorial integrity in return for an agreement last August for stationing ese troops in northern Indo-China. A Saigon message states that it is authoritatively stated that the Japanese on Thursday greatly strengthened the Japanese air force at Tonking. The French authorities at Saigon to-day confirmed that the ThailandJapanese ultimatum expires at midnight on Saturday though the exact deadline is subject to an elastic interpretation due to the variance; in Tokio, Indo-China and Vichy times. A Japanese official in Saigon said to press representatives: “With 12,000 Japanese troops at Tonking, a large Japanese air force at Hanoi, Japanese warships outside Haiphong and other warships off southern Indo-China, the French must agree to the latest Thai-land-Japanese proposals.” Japanese residents throughout IndoChina, numbering about 400, are preparing to leave as a result of the evacuation notice.

The Japanese Admiralty has announced the appointment. of ViceAdmiral Hiroki Yamamoto as commander at the Makoe naval base.