JAPANESE ENTER BANGKOK

Timaru Herald, Volume CL, Issue 22143, 11 December 1941, Page 5

JAPANESE ENTER BANGKOK

Agreement With Thailand LONDON, December 9. Japanese forces are reported from Tokio to have entered Bangkok. The German radio reported that Japanese troops had begun a peaceful entry into the city, and also into many important points in the eastern and southern areas of Thailand in accordance with an agreement between Japan and Thailand. A Berlin announcement states that Japanese troops in North Thailand are marching towards the Burma Road. It is officially stated in I ondon that, according to a report issued by the Agency, the Japanese Embassy in. Bangkok announced that Japan had received conclusive evidence that British forces, in accordance with previous plans, had crossed the ThailandMalaya frontier at dawn on Monday. The announcement continued:— “Japan then began negotiations with the Thai Government, and sent forces against the British. This allegation that the Japanese attack on Thailand was consequent upon a move by British troops into Thai territory is wholly untrue. In no place had any British forces crossed the frontier when Thailand was invaded by the Japanese. “Reports have been received in Landon that negotiations between Japan and Thailand led to an agreement to allow the passage of Japanese troops across Thailand. The British Government is awaiting further information as to the exact circumstances in which this agreement was concluded before taking a decision as to its future attitude towards Thailand.