JAPAN’S DESIGNS

Manawatu Standard, Volume LXI, Issue 199, 24 July 1941, Page 8

JAPAN’S DESIGNS

ON INDO-CHINA. 1 TIIE VICHY VIEW. (United Press Association —Copyright) (Kec. 1 p.m.) LONDON, July 23. A Vichy spokesman told interviewers to-day that Chinese troops and concentrations in Yunnan, British troops and aircraft in Burma and in j the Malay Peninsula had caused France and Japan to fear a possible •attempt to occupy Indo-China. France, alone, was unable to defend the colony. A questioner remarked: “We thought that France was pledged to defend her Empire without any foreign help?’ The spokesman replied: “Events in Syria have obliged us to make an exception.” , Asked why France had not invited the United States to help to defend Indo-China instead oi Japan, the spokesman said: “We asked the United States last year what help she could give us in Indo-China, but we got nothing from Washington.” The spokesman denied that Germany had intervened at Vichy on behalf ot Japan and he added that Japan s intervention came within last year s agreement for recognising Japan s P re " dominant position in the lar East and also her for maintaining peace in Asia. Negotiations were proceeding at Hanoi regarding the details ot the proposed Japanese occupation of Indo-Chinese naval anc air bases. The spokesman insisted that the occupation was not permanent. RELATIONS WITH RUSSIA. The Stockholm Social Demokratcn’s Berlin correspondent says: There is no thought of war between Russia and Japan coming immediately, but it is believed Japan wall break on diplomatic relations with Russia and strengthen her forces in Manchukuo and Korea in order to tie up tne Soviet’s Far Eastern army, thus indirectly supporting Germany. It is suggested that Japan might move against Singapore from IndoChina, or against the Netherlands East Indies or Burma with the object of cutting the Burma Road. The Germans consider Singapore is inipr 0 - nable from the sea. . WASHINGTON, July 23. Stating that the international situation was more serious than the public understood, and was rapidly worse, Mr May (chairman of the House 1 Military Affairs Committee) indicated that the Committee would approve ol General Marshall’s request for a Congressional proclamation of a n ‘ emergency and an order to ex army service.