Advance in Indo-China

Press, Volume LXXXII, Issue 24897, 10 June 1946, Page 4

Advance in Indo-China

The re-establishment of French authority in Indo-China is going well. Last week the French Commissioner for Cochin-China announced the formation of an independent Cochin-Chinese republic within the Indo-Chinese Federation and the French Commonwealth. Nine months ago, it seemed that the French would find it extremely difficult, in the face of nationalist aspirations, to renew their connexion with Indo-China. They came back, however, armed not with machine-guns alone. Much more wisely, they continued to offer Indo-China home rule. They proposed that the colony should become a federation of five constituent parts—Tonking, Annam, Laod, Cochin-China, and Cambodia —within the French Commonwealth. In Cambodia, where conditions were more normal, they had their first and early success. In November an exchange of letters between the King of Cambodia and the French Government’s Commissioner outlined the future internal autonomy of the province; and in February a provisional agreement was signed defining the new relationship in more formal terms. In Annam, the heart of the nationalist movement, lay the real test But in March the leaders of

the self-styled Vietnam Republic and representatives of the French Government reached an accord, still to be worked out in detail, recognising Annam as a free State forming part of the Indo-Chinese Federation. M. Cedile’s announcement last week signals yet another step forward. This general progress cannot, of course, be considered in isolation. As a “ Manchester Guard- “ ian ” correspondent recently wrote;

Ideas are finding communications across South-east Asia easier and quicker. Mr Sjahrir in Batavia takes note of the advances of the Vietnam nationalists in Annam. Disorder in Singapore is analysed for its political consequences by observers in Rangoon and Hong Kong. The vernacular presses are prolific and outspoken. Wireless Is noisy and übiquitous. . . . This means that no one of the three Powers—Great Britain, Holland, and France—can afford to handle its Asiatic problems without an eye on what its neighbours are doing. It it ignores them its subjects will not.

So far, he went on, demands for self-government had not been heard in Malaya as they had in Burma, Indo-China, the Netherlands East Indies, and even in Hong Kong. Nevertheless, interest in politics was growing in Malaya, and each new British move was being watched in a new critical spirit. If they were moves that did not positively encourage Malaya’s Eastern peoples to a larger share in government, Britain would “ sooner or later meet what the “ Dutch are now faced with in “ Indonesia and the French have “ only avoided by the skin of their “ teeth in Indo-China. ” Britain’s plan for Malaya is meant to hold that encouragement. Yet the Malayan peoples are suspicious and apprehensive. It will depend, largely, on Mr Malcolm MacDonald and Sir Edward Gent whether these doubts and fears are dissipated. They carry a heavy responsibility.