VIET NAM REQUESTS U.N. INTERVENTION

Rotorua Morning Post, Issue 5296, 8 January 1947, Page 5

VIET NAM REQUESTS U.N. INTERVENTION

(Press Assn.

+ "TO PREVENT WAR" fight against french imperialism . '

— Rec. 9.30 p.m.)

BANGKOK, Jan. 7. Delegates representing the Viet Nam, the Free Laos, and Free Cambodia Governments have written to the United ►States Government asking it to bring the Indo-Chinese situation before the United Nations to prevent war. The leader of the Free Laos forces, who desires to remain -identiLIed, told a United Press correspondent that the letter was the first concerted aetion of the three groups which formed a permanent joint committee. "to ensure effective practical efforts in the common battle against French Imperialism." The information stated that the three groups now have 500,000 wellarmed troops and could mobilise 10,000,000. The correspondent says the Free Laos and Free Cambodia represent the forces of those two provinees desiring independence, such as was achieved hy the Viet Nam Government hefore the present crisis. Latest reports of the fighting in Indo-China say that French motorised columns, moving in from east and west, have opened up the main highway between Hanoi and the oort of Haiphong, about 50 miles away. Hanoi is still surrounded hy the Viet Nam forces, who are reported to he shelling the city with Japanese 75 m.rn. guns. A report from Hanoi says that French paratroops were dropped 50 miles south of Hanoi on S-unday r-ight. -*It is here that French forces have heen holding against Viet Nam forces since December -10. The French Colonial Minister, who is expeeted to return to France within 24 hours, exprcsses hopes for a ceasecider soon.