SITUATION MORE TENSE

Southland Times, Issue 24238, 23 September 1940, Page 5

SITUATION MORE TENSE

Japanese Demands In Indo-China

FRENCH PREPARE FOR MOBILIZATION (United Press Assn.—Telegraph Copyright) (Received September 22, 7.30 p.m.) NEW YORK, September 21. The Hanoi correspondent of the United Press of America says the authorities are taking emergency measures. The new Japanese demands have apparently been rejected. French mobilization is almost complete. Troops are reported to be ready to mo.ve at short notice. Trains are standing by to evacuate women and children to the south. It is reported from Hanoi that Nippon Airways have suspended the Hanoi service and removed all equipment. The Japanese evacuation ships at Saigon have sailed, but as far as is known the evacuees have not yet left Haiphong. The French authorities said they would resist a Japanese landing if they attempted to enforce the ultimatum.

An earlier French communique stated that the Japanese had modified the range of the new demands and negotiations had been resumed “in a favourable atmosphere.” French officials gave the impression that the conversations would uroduce an early agreement. Admiral Nishihara, leader of the Japanese mission in Indo-China, said the Japanese attitude does not threaten Indo-China’s territorial integrity nor the French sovereignty, but Japan was convinced that the situation demanded the setting of a time limit for a detailed final settlement. He added that the Japanese attitude was based on the Tokyo-Vichy understanding providing that the French and Japanese settle locally details of military facilities which could be granted to Japan for facilitating operations' against Marshal Chiang Kai-shek. The Foreign Office announced that the Japanese had demanded a swift conclusion of the Indo-China talks.