VICHY ACCEPTANCE

Gisborne Herald, Volume LXVIII, Issue 20499, 8 March 1941, Page 5

VICHY ACCEPTANCE

THAILAND AGREEMENT

CLAIMS MADE IN TOKIO NEW ECONOMIC DRIVE (Reed. Mar. 8, 10.-30 a.m.) NEW YORK, Mar. 7. The Tokio correspondent of the New York Times stated yesterday that Vichy’s latest communication to the Japanese Foreign Minister, Mr. Yosuke Matsuoka, accepted all the principal points in Japan’s plan for a settlement of the dispute between Thailand and French Indo-China. Referring to-day to the negotiations, the Japanese Cabinet Information Bureau spokesman, Mr. Ishii said: “We have no intention of further extending the truce. It is unnecessary because agreement has been reached on the main points of the Japanese plan.” He was unable to say whether the negotiations would be concluded today. He said that the joint commission would undoubtedly be established to determine the border. Opinion Concerning Mr. Hull Asked if he thought the United States Secretary of State, Mr. Cordell Hull, would like the fact that the negotiations had been settled, Mr. Ishii said: “I think so. Mr. Hull likes peace.” The Tokio paper Nichinichi Shimbun predicts a transition in commercial and economic relations between Japan and Thailand. The paper says it is believed that Japan is conducting economic negotiations with Thailand simultaneously with the Japanese Indo - China trade talks. “Thailand

is at present struggling to promote a racial principle aiming at economic stabilisation by the medium of the restoration of commercial rights from Chinese merchants and the removal of monopolistic burdens in finance and tin mining under the pressure of British capital,” states the Nichinichi Shimbun. “For the execution of these activities Thailand cannot but depend on Japan for support.”