DEMANDS MET

Otago Daily Times, Issue 24411, 24 September 1940, Page 7

DEMANDS MET

AGREEMENT AT HANOI JAPANESE ENTER INDOCHINA GARRISON 07 SIX. THOUSAND (United Press Association) (By Electric Telegraph—Copyright) HAIPHONG, Sept. 23., (Received Sept. 24, at 1 aim.) An agreement between the Japanese and the French has been signed and fighting has ceased. The agreement, which becomes effective immediately, provides for the entrance for garrisoning purposes of 6000 Japanese via Haiphong, the use of three airports in Tongking, Phulangthoung, and the Gialam including Phuto, Kaokay or railway. .Vice-admiral Decoux issued a proclamation stating that the agreement conformed to "a realistic policy." He said Japan agreed to recognise Indo-China's integrity and France's sovereignty. Vice-admirai Decoux added that the army commander-in-chief, General Maurice Martin, supported the arrangement. AN EARLIER MESSAGE FIGHTING ON THE FRONTIER" HANOI, Sept. 22 The Japanese have crossed the border and are atacking Dongdang, on the north-east frontier of IndoChina, about 100 miles north-east of Hanoi. ■.<..-■. •.■.>*• ■•■ The French fully resisted, the attacks, which were suspended at midnight French officials, however, expect the Japanese to resume the attacks at dawn. The Japanese assaulted Dongdang contrary to the Franco-Japanese agreement giving the. Japanese certain military' facili.ties. including airfields. ANOTHER VERSION NO " INVASION " BY JAPAN TOKIO, Sept. .23. (Received Sept. 24, at 0.30 a.m.) ' In connection with last night's Franco-Japanese " incidents " on the Indo-China border, an authorised source declares that the Japanese in no way "invaded" Indo-China. They were merely entering the territory in accordance with the terms of the agreement permitting them to pass troops. That the French resisted them must have been due to a misunderstanding, but the matter was soon settled amicably. It is officially stated that "small numbers of Japanese troops are dead or wounded as a result of the Dongdang clash." The Foreign Office Spokesman, Mr K. Suma, attributed the 1 Dongdang skirmish to delay in communicating the terms of the agreement to the French border officers. Mr Suma said that Japan was entirely without territorial designs in Indo-China, and did not intend to provoke the French. Inasmuch as the agreement was based on peaceful talks between the two countries, there could be no objection to it from any foreign country.