FAR EAST MOVES

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXXVII, Issue 23810, 11 November 1940, Page 8

FAR EAST MOVES

'JAPAN AND THAILAND RIGHTS FOR TROOPS NEGOTIATIONS REPORTED By Telegraph—Press Association Copyrijyhfc (Received November 10, 9-30 p.m.) LONDON. Nov. 30 A Chinese press despatch from Kunming says the Japanese Army in French Indo-C'hina is negotiating with Thailand for the right' to station Japanese troops in that country, or for the passage of Japanese forces through Thai territory, thereby threatening Singapore and Burma The French authorities are said to be extending the Kuliu airfield for the Japanese. Border Dispute Reflecting the aggravation of the border dispute between Indo-China and Thai, the authorities at Hanoi in the past few days have been calling to the colours all French citizens between the ages of 40 and 50. In the meantime the Tndo-China army in the Tongking area is moving a large force to the south. It is estimated that half the strength of the Indo-China air force has already been transferred to bases in the south. A Shanghai despatch says the Chinese Foreign Minister has lodged a strong protest with the French Embassy over the transfer of the Second Special District Court and the third branch of the Kiangsu High Court in the French Concession to the Nanking regime. Chinese and French The operation of Chinese Courts in the French' Concession will hereafter be considered j unlawful, and tne French ! authorities\will be hold responsible for j all conscqueaices arising from the trans- [ fer of the Courts, said :i Chinese j Foreign Office spokesman. | The Japanese have taken over control of the head office of the Central Bank of China. Financial circles said the Japanese? were preparing to open a new bank. It is reported from Weiheiwei that the long record of British activity at Weiheiwei, one\of the principal garrison points in North China, has been brought to a dose, at least for the duration of the War. The British maintenance party has been withdrawn and all stores at the naval depot have been shipped to Hongkong for use elsewhere. ■ • WANT FAMILIES BACK HUSBANDS IN: HONGKONG SUSPENSION OF EVACUATION (Received November 10, 6.50 p.m.) HONGKONG, Nov. 9 A mass meeting of Hongkong husbands decided to petition the Secretary of State for the Colonies to allow the return of their wives and families from;, Australia. This action -was taken in view of the Government's recent decision to allow wives and children at present in Hongkong to remain for the time beiug.\ They are not being subjected to compulsory evacuation. SHOT BY CHINESE JAPANESE GENDARME (Received November 10, 6.50 p.m.) SHANGHAI, Nov. 9 Another Japanese gendarme was shot and seriously wounded by a Chinese gunman, who, when he was about to be searched, suddenly drew a pistol from his sleeve and shot the gendarme in the "chest. PEARL RIVER TRADE LONDON. Nov. 8 Semi-official Japanese sources in Hongkong report that the Pearl River will be reopened to-morrow to vessels plying between Macao, Hongkong and Canton. River trade was previously closed by the Japanese allegedly owing to cholera epidemics. GERMAN TROOPS DENIAL BY RUMANIA WASHINGTON, Nov. 8 The following statement has been made by the Rumanian Legation: "We are authorised to state, in view of reports of the alleged presence in Rumania of hundreds of thousands of German troops, that only a German military mission, accompanied by small units, has arrived in the country. Its purpose is to instruct the army, following an agreement negotiated with the previous Government." j EX-KING CAROL .TRAVELS IN SPAIN VICHY, Nov. 8 Ex-King Carol and Madame Lupescu and their suite left Madrid last night for Seville. FUNDS FOR AIRCRAFT » _ British Wireless LONDON, Nov. 8 With the further remittance of £IO,OOO. the contributions of the people of Burma toward the purchase of aircraft have now reached a total of" £150,000. Sierra Leone has contributed over £25,000. Contributions have also been received from Uganda and Busogna.