JAPAN’S SITUATION.

Manawatu Standard, Volume LX, Issue 249, 18 September 1940, Page 7

JAPAN’S SITUATION.

“INCREASINGLY SERIOUS.”

COMMENT BY PREMIER

(Rec. 9 a.m.) TOKIO, Sept. 17. Addressing the final meeting of the Preparatory Commission the Premier (Prince Konoye) said: “I think Japan’s situation will, become increasingly serious in the near future, for which reason Japan’s 100,000,000 people must act as one in an effort to surmount this national emergency.” Newspapers in Hong Kong state that Admiral Nishihara has presented the final demands to the French Governor of Indo-China (Admiral Decoux). They are: (1) Indo-China is to be divided into three sections —Touting under Japanese control, A imam as a buffer

zone, and’the southern provinces to remain under French control. (2) The establishment of the Japanese air base at Hanoi. (3) The establishment of a Japanese naval base, also Japanese control of the northern sea belt.

A message from Kweilin states that., according to informed circles, the Jap ane6e.and French negotiators at Hanoi have agreed: (1) To the landing of Japanese troops at Haiphong, with passage only along the, railway. (2) The landing of 30,000 Japanese only in order not to exceed two-thirds of the French garrison in Tongking. _ (3) The Japanese to use the Hanoi airfield. . The Japanese, however, are insisting on landing 120,000 men, for which reason the negotiations are dragging on.