MOVE INTO INDO-CHINA

Manawatu Standard, Volume LXI, Issue 199, 24 July 1941, Page 7

MOVE INTO INDO-CHINA

JAPAN’S AIM APPARENT NEGOTIATIONS WITH VICHY LONDON, July 23. It was officially disclosed this evening that negotiations for what is called “technical Japanese protection of French Indo-China” are under way at Vichy and Hanoi. This confirms an earlier report that Japan has made up her mind on her expansionist policy and has produced demands to Vichy. A "Washington report states that the demands took the form of an ultimatum delivered yesterday, to expire within 24 hours. This is stated to have gone as far as demanding complete Japanese occupation of Indo-China, though other messages only allude to claims for bases. A report from Chungking states that a Japanese convoy was sighted moving south. It comprised 30 transports, seven capital ships, three aircraft-carriers, and 55 destroyers.

Colonel F. Knox (Secretary of the United States Navy) declared to-day that the navy is in a position to take whatever steps are necessary to carry out United States policy in the Far East

The chairman of'the Military Committee of tiie House of Representatives said the international situation was more serious than the general public realised —hnd it was becoming more so. Tbe committee approved ol General Marshall's view that conscripts should be kept in .service ior more than a year.

Vichy is preparing the French public by fabricating reports that Britain is planning to move. ■ against Indochina. leudiiig Japan and France to fear an Anglo-Ch.nese attempt at occupation. “France capiioi defend Indochina alone. Wc had an example of that in Syria.” The latest news on the crisis comes from semi-official sources in V icily which state that the French and Japanese conversations are continuing. Reports which are obviously inspired state that British troop concentrations constitute a menace to French Indo-China.

“The Japanese believe these constitute a threat to tbe safety of the J 1 ar East, of -which she is the guardian.”

It adds that- the proposed Japanese occupation of lndo-Cliina is to be only temporary.

APPROACHING A CLIMAX.

EVENTS MOVE RAPIDLY. New York, July 23,

Events are moving more rapidly in the Far East and are approaching a climax with President Roosevelt preparing the American people for likely dramatic action. According t-o the New York Times, information which has -reached high Government officials indicates that Japan intends almost immediately to march troops southward from China if, indeed, the march has not already begun. ‘ The Washington correspondent of the North American Newspaper Alliance says diplomats'report that Japan has sent ar. ultimatum to Judo-China demanding in effect the right to protect the colony against aggression. It is understood Vichy lias agreed to the Japanese demands on condition that Japan restores Indo-Cltina’s independence. The diplomats predicted that Vichy’s decision would arouse an unfavourable reaction in France.

Other reports agree that a quick campaign against Indo-China would commend itself to Japan because she would bo rewarded with goodly supplies of coal, metals. rubber and rice and would also obtain naval and air liases within striking range of the Philippines and North Borneo. In spite of reports of Japanese troop movements northward in the direction of Outer Mongolia and Siberia, Washington circles do not believe that Japan intends to attack Siberia, but is more likely to attempt to establish herself firmly in Inilo-China. 11l Chungking it is suggested that Japan is preparing to attempt to cut, the Burma road—China’s lifeline.

It is pointed out that Japanese troops and aircraft arc already established in Northern Indo-Chir.a under the Tokio agreement with Yiehv last year.

Reports of Japanese military movements in North China, Manehukuo, and Japan have reached London in the past. 24 hours, and appear to be mainly in the direction of Indo-China. A Press Association report from Tokio says the Yomiuri Shimbun urged the Government to take immediate steps to cope with increasing British and American pressure on Thailand and Tndo-Cliina. “lest Thailand and IndoChina become serious danger spots in the East Asia co-prosperity sphere.” It said that the British Far Eastern forces were concentrating on tho Tlindand-Bur-ma border in order to force Thailand to adopt a pro-British policy, while British and American agents in Bangkok were agitating for Thailand politicians to over-throw the present pro-Japanese Government. Tt, said British and American agents were similarly active .n Tndo-China, tlirough de Gaullist elements.

Prince Konoyo and Mr Wang Oliingwei- (puppet Governor of Nanking) exchanged messages in which Prince TConoyc aserted: “There is no change whatever in Japan’s foreign policy toward your country.” He pledged increasing support to tho Nanking regime.