Manawatu Evening Standard. WEDNESDAY, SEPT. 25, 1940. JAPAN AND INDO-CHINA.

Manawatu Standard, Volume LX, Issue 255, 25 September 1940, Page 6

Manawatu Evening Standard. WEDNESDAY, SEPT. 25, 1940. JAPAN AND INDO-CHINA.

Resolved to have her way in Indo-China, Japan lias .succeeded although fighting is continuing on the north-eastern border ot China. Japan has been given tbe right to send 6000 troops into the country via Haiphong for garrisoning purposes, the use of airports at Toughing, and the railway system. Thus she makes another move in her march southward, and one that brings her appreciably to another goal, the Dutch East Indies. After exhausting every diplomatic effort the Vichy Government no doubt felt it could no longer resist the Japanese demands which had the support of Hitler, though French people in Indo-China are by no means entirely in accordance with that decision. Japan has been quick to assert that she has no territorial designs on the French territory and claims that as the agreement is “based upon peaceful talks between the t\?u countries there can be no objection to it from any foreign country.” An informal agreement has been made with Britain and the United States to recognise the status quo of IndoChina and the Dutch East Indies, and no doubt Japan regards her demands and action as consistent with this arrangement. 'Upon Japan’s p-ood intentions, now she litis gained her points, rests the security of French sovereignty in Indo-China. But for the events in Europe Japan would not have ventured to make these demands, and even assuming she would have been rash enough to do so, France would have sternly resisted them. Noav helpless under the heel of Germany she had no other course to adopt.

Japan’s purpose is to launch a fresh attack upon China from the south-west, and China has expressed determination to seek out and attack the Japanese as soon as they appear in the French territory. In that event it will become an extension of the Japanese unofficial battlefield and the status* quo would be in immediate danger of being swept away, assuming that it even now exists. The United States is most apprehensive of the situation now developing, but is unwilling _ to intervene to the extent of risking war. There has been talk of economic retaliation by Washington, without any confirmation, while in Japan a growing body of opinion favours the southward movement being extended to the Dutch East Indies. Mr Cordell Hull has given'warning to Japan that the United States will not recognise concessions made by Vichy under duress. The same policy has been observed for years in regard to Manchuria, and whatever Japan gains by force in Indo-China: must also be regarded in this light. In a recent statement in the House of Lords Viscount Caldecote said the British Government has made it clear to Tokio that it is intcr-

estod in. the maintenance of the status quo in Indo-China. To the extent it is interfered with Japan will incur British displeasure and resentment'. Collaboration between Britain and the United States is a natural outcome of events in the Ear East where their interests are identical in many respects and signs of this have not been lacking. The more this grows the greater respect will Japan be inclined to show for the status quo she professes to maintain.