FRENCH INDO-CHINA.

Manawatu Standard, Volume LX, Issue 246, 14 September 1940, Page 7

FRENCH INDO-CHINA.

RESISTANCE TO JAPAN

HANOI, Sept. 12. The French seemingly are taking up their courage as a result of the statement on Indo-China by the United States Secretary of State (Mr Cordell Hull). There lias been almost total mobilisation, and business men in uniform drill daily. French naval guards surround Government buildings. The evacuation of Hanoi is virtually at a standstill coincident with the return of confidence. The French are reported to have obtained Japanese assurances that the Japanese army at Canton will refrain from further threats for the duration of the negotiations, which arc to be resumed on the return of the Japanese mission from Tokio on Friday.

In his statement last week, Mr Hull said : “During recent months the United States and others, including Japan, have expressed a desire that the status quo should he respected and preserved in the Pacific, with special reference to the Netherlands Erst Indies and French Indo-China. In the absence of official confirmation of the reported Japanese ultimatum to the authorities in French Indo-China, this Government io reluctant to give credence to the rcl>ort. However, it is a matter to which the United States attaches importance, and it stands to reason that should events prove the report to be well founded the effect upon public opinion in the United States would be unfortunate.”

CHINESE GUERRILLAS

GREAT OFFENSIVE BEGINS

CHUNGKING, Sept. 12.

Military reports from North China state that guerrillas totalling 300,000 are carrying out the greatest guerrilla offensive of the war, tearing up railways and highways in Japanese-occu-pied areas.

JAPANESE BOMBING.

(llec. Noon.) CHUNGKING. Sept. 13. Japanese bombers demolished the German Embassy. There were no casualties. "