THAI GOVERNMENT'S DENIAL

Nelson Evening Mail, Volume 76, 19 August 1941, Page 5

THAI GOVERNMENT'S DENIAL

RETORTED ltl'M.WI) in BRITAIN CONTROI. OF RAILWAY LINK Tlu* Thai (ioverninent has now officially denied reports that Britain has demanded eonlrol of a section of the railway line in Thailand and threatened to use force in the event | of non-compliance. Bangkok said that there was no truth whatever in this foreign news report. The rumours have a head.\ been denied in London and hv the British Minister in Bangkok and the British < ominander-in-t hief in the Tor Last, Sir ltoherl BrookePopham. JAPANESE SWAKMINti INTO COUNTRY Reports from Bangkok to-night sa; t that. Japanese are swarming into Thai [ land in ever-increasing numbers. On Bangkok journal published an ait.o! headed “Exit PZuropeans. Enter Jap anese." The writer says that one see the Japanese everywhere. Upper das seats in Bangkok cinemas, which use to be occupied by European.'. are nov being taken by Japanese, who are als> occupying many houses at rents wind the Thais cannot afford. Japanese shops have been opened a Japanese Government concerns. Reports from Tokio say that Japai has opened up new trade talks will the Netherlands East Indies in an ef fort to end the “freezing war." The Domei news agency says tha Ihe talks are making such smo t'i pro ! grass that the resumption of norma trade relations is expected next week. NAVAL SPOKESMAN’S COMMENT The “Japan Times and Advertiser Tokio quotes the naval spokesman Commander Hideo Hiraide, as sayinj that the Imperial navy believes tha Washington and London underrat' . Japan's lighting power and feel they cat ! risk further anti-Japanese encirclcmen with impunity. “However." lie said ’ “Japan is not exhausted and not starving. but strong and capable of grea ’ | sacrifices, and she can and will with- ' stand any kind of war Britain and Am