AGREEMENT AFTER BRIEF FIGHT

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXXVII, Issue 23769, 24 September 1940, Page 7

AGREEMENT AFTER BRIEF FIGHT

ADMISSION OF TROOPS AS GARRISON By Telejrraph—Press Association —Copyright (Received Sopt-ombor 23, 7.10 p.m.) IXXNDON, Sept. 23 An agreement has been signed between the Japanese and the French authorities in Indo-China, and fighting has ceased, says a message from Haiphong. The agreement, which becomes effective immediately, includes provision for the entrance for garrisoning purposes of 6000 Japanese troops, via Haiphong; and the use of three airports in Tongking, including Phuto and .Laokay or Phulangthoung, and the Gialam railway. The French Governor-General, Admiral Decaux, issued a proclamation stating that the agreement conformed with a * realistic policy." He said Japan had agreed to recognise the integrity of Indo-China and the sovereignty of France. The commander-in-chief of the French forces, General Maurice Martin, was stated to be in support of the arrangement.

Earlier messages from Hanoi stated that the Japanese crossed the border, attacking Dongdang, about 100 miles north-east of Hanoi, on the north-east frontier of Indo-China, yesterday. The French fully resisted the attacks, which were suspended at midnight.

According to a despatch from Tokio, the Japanese Foreign spokesman, Mr. Suma, attributed the Dongdang skirmish to delay in communicating the terms of the agreement to the French border officers.

Mr. Suma said Japan was entirely without territorial designs in Indo-China and did not intend to provoke the French. Inasmuch as the agreement was based on peaceful talks between the two countries, there could be no objection to it from any foreign country.

An authorised source in Tokio states in connection with the Franco-Japanese "incident" on the Indo-China border that the Japanese in no way "invaded" Indo-China. They were merely entering the territory in accordance with the terms of the agreement permitting them to pass troops. That the French resisted them must have been due to a misunderstanding, but the matter was soon settled amicably. It is officially stated: "A small number of Japanese troops were killed or wounded in the Dongdang clash."