FRENCH PLAY DOWN WAR IN INDO-CHINA

Chronicle (Levin), 14 January 1947, Page 8

FRENCH PLAY DOWN WAR IN INDO-CHINA

ReceiVed Monday, 7 p.m. LONDON, Jan. 13. ' J'h'onch reinforcements which disJinbarked at Saigon told' by thd iiigh C'ommissioner (M. Dargenlieuj that.it was ineXUCt to say that a stat,«i . of war 'existed in lndo-Ohiita, savs iho Tinics's Paris correspondent quoting daignn reports. M." Dargenlieu addod that the military opetations in Tonking were neither more important nor graver than those which in the past had • necessarily sprung up liere and thero in 1 ndo-Chiiift. , Another report says tliat ' President Ro Ohi Minh, spealdng oii the Viethani transmitter, predicted that the French who had been unable to defeat the \'ietiiamese in 20 days "would fail to do ko in 20 years". "The difficulties in Indo-Cliina will be solyed and peac-e will be restored as a result pf au understanding with elenients there truly representing Indo1'hina's population, said the French Colonial Minister (M. Moutet) when he returned to Paris. Despite what was being saidj IndoChina Was not being put to the fire aiul sword. The. only important thing ' for the time being was to oi'gahise the det'enee of tlie Ftench eivilians and to restore order. Respoiisibilitv for the ineidents ih Indo-China rested partly on tlie French, said M. Leon Bout-Bien, the Socialist Party executive member wliolias returned io Paris with M. Moutet. M. Bout-Bien said he had beOn able to make unofficial contacts with the Yietuarnese. The ones he met had l-ieeu pverwhelmetl and led on by extremists. It should be-possible for the French to come to an understanding with the representntive elenients . in Indo-China. Reuter's correspondent, in a cable message froin ilanoi, says the French have not j-et been able to put their tirst convoy through to Hanoi, which is still depcnding on the nieagre ^ood supplies flown froin Ilaiphong. Fresli fighting between the Victnamesc and the French flared up on l'b-idav in Hanoi which was relieved on Thursday after the tliree weeks' siege and hunger blockade. The Vietnaniese shelled the eit.y, , while to the south tliey directed mortijr fire against Namdinh. The Vietnaniese Jeader (Dr. Ho Clii Minh) called on the French Parlianicnl to seud an inquiry cominission to Indo-China immediatejy. TTe rlemanded Ihe iinniediate cessation of liostilities ns oue of tliree poaee conditions conlained in a letler 1o Ihe French (lovernment.