"FRIENDLY ENTRY"

Otago Daily Times, Issue 24412, 25 September 1940, Page 8

"FRIENDLY ENTRY"

JAPANESE IN INDOCHINA FIGHTING ON THE BORDER THE AGREEMENT BROKEN (United Press Association) (By Electric Telegraph—Copyright) LONDON, Sept. 24. (Received Sept. 24, at 11.30 p.m.) The Japanese made two "daylight air raids on the strategic railway border town of Langson. . They also resumed shelling in the afternoon Six Japanese planes twice concentrated bombs on the Langson airport and market place, and fighting occurred at Langson all the afternoon. The French announced that the Indo-Chinese had abandoned Dong Dang. The Japanese planes which bombed Langson are apparently operating from an aircraft Carrier. A hospital train from the border arrived at Hanoi carrying over 100 wounded. Red Cross stations are established throughout the city awaiting an emergency The army has commandeered motor cars. The French insist that the Japanese are responsible for the,, bordeT fighting .because Sunday's agreement does: not ' for the Canton Army's entry.l into IndO-Chiha ;a|r though it is" admitted : : that the French agreed to discus? jhis ques-. tion in the future.' " "...,,'•

Commenting, on Tokio's announce 1 rfieht.;of a peaceful :.and friendly entry into Indo-Chiria, officials said: "Anyone coming across, the, border hr the middle of the night in combat formation and using arms is hardly friendly." Concession to Japan

The Foreign -Minister (M. Baudouin) stated that the granting, by France to Japan of air bases ih IndoChina and the right of passage for 6000 troops was not an offensive action against China but a.cover for possible Japanese .evacuation from Canton. France and Japan had signed a military agreement, and a commercial vagreem ent was being negotiated.- .Japan would receive economic preference "-over all Powers.

"France hopes that the signature of the pact, in which she recognises Japan's dominating political and economic interests in the Far East. will prove the beginning of a loyal Franco-Japanese entente," M. Baudoujn said. The Axis Powers had not exerted pressure to secure acceptance of the Japanese demands. France had agreed to the concessions when the United States Secretary of State (Mr Cordell Hull) told her the United States Government realised the necessity for doing so. China's Attitude

" China had plenty of time to prepare for this eventuality and our actions will proceed according to a prearranged plan." declared the Chinese spokesman in Chungking, commenting on the Indo-China agreement.

It is estimated that 200,000 are massed along the border ready to resist any Japanese advance to*. wards Kunming. Large-scale den struction of all communication facili-*" ties on the border is at present pro-; gressing and whole sections.6f the, Indo-China railway inside Chinese territory are being removed. Evacuation of; the Chinese population. and Govertiment institutions I • at;'., jltim-; ming. have been, speeded: up.j'as itf/is" feared the Jaftane'se Will; resort a severe aerial bombardment of the ill-defended city shortly from their newly-acquired air bases. JAPANESE CLAIM RESISTANCE CRUSHED (By Wireless) Zr'S DAVENTRY,- Sept. : 24. The Japanese state that : . French in Indb'China has been crushed, but other reports say that fighting was still going on this morning. The Japanese allege that a French force, which offered unexpected resistance, used poison gas. The French lost 130 men killed, but Japanese casualties were slight. About 240 Indo-Chinese soldiers, with /several French officers, were captured. Mr Cordell Hull, commenting on the -United States' atttitude to the Indo-China affair, gaid that the status "quo of Indo-China was being upset under duress America was closely watching the actions of Thailand, which had.made territorial demands on Indo-China, and her licences to buy United' States be reviewed. ' •:■■• ';-. , /'According to a report received from Tokio, Admiral Yomiuri says the Japanese Government will reject unhesitatingly-any third country s protest against' Japan's entry to Indo-China because the Japanese intentions "are; extremely, peaceful and. tonstructivei. Moreover, they have been taken with the full understanding of the French Government. - He added that some of the third Powers which interfered with the negotiations from the outset were already showing a threatening attitude, contending that the entry ot the 'Japanese troops is an improper military action. The State Deoartmeni in Washington categorically denied M. that the United States had' approved of the Frencn concessions to Jaoan in Indo-China. "This-Government." the statement issued, says, "has not at any time or in any way approved o* the French concessions to Jaoan The attitude of this Government to the developments in Indo-China is as expressed by Mr Hull nreviously to-day.