JAPAN’S MOTIVES

Hauraki Plains Gazette, Volume 50, Issue 3057, 2 April 1941, Page 3

JAPAN’S MOTIVES

EX-KING’S DISTRUST

MAY. OCCUPY INDO-CHINA

THAILAND’S FOREIGN POLICY

Japan’s motives in intervening in the Indo-China—-Thailand dispute are frankly distrusted by ex-

King Prajadhipok, who abdicated

the throne of Thailand in favour of his nephew, Annanda Mahidol.

The former King, who is now living in England, expresses, in an interview, the belief that, despite the armistice, lighting may break out again, and then the Japanese may say, ”We must have peace there,” and may occupy Indo-China.

Ex-King Prajadhipok denies that Thailand’s politics are dictated ‘by Japan, saying that Thailand’s claim against Indo-China, which amounted to no more than the rectification of the frontier, was a long-standing one and not made at Japan’s instigation.

“I do not think Japan wants to fight there yet,” the former King says. “I think that she would rather wait to see what happens in Europe before courting a fight there. However, she might count on nobody helping IndioChina, and the French alone could not do much to stop her.

“If the Japanese want to use the land route to Singapore, they must

occupy Indo-China and then invhde Thailand. We know that Thailand figures in Japanese schemes for expansion, that the Japanese try to make out that they are friends of Thailand. They said to the Chinese, ‘We love you very much,’ and look what happened there.

“Thailand does not want to be under the direction of any nation. lam sure that this is the policy of the present Government.

“It has been the traditional policy of all the Kings of Thailand to be friendly with the British Empire—that is the keystone of all Thailand foreign policy. I have no reason to suppose that this policy has been changed.”