FINAL DEMANDS TO FRENCH

Southland Times, Issue 24235, 19 September 1940, Page 8

FINAL DEMANDS TO FRENCH

Japanese Mission In Indo-China ULTIMATUM OPPOSED BY LOCAL AUTHORITIES (United Press Assn.—Telegraph Copyright) HONG KONG, September 17. Newspapers in Hong Kong state that General Nishihara, the Japanese representative, has presented final demands to General de Coux, Governor-General of French Indo-China, as follows: — (1) Indo-China to be divided into three sections: Tonking under Japanese control; Annam as a buffer zone; the southern provinces to remain under French control. (2) The establishment of a Japanese air base at Hanoi.

(3) The establishment of a Japanese naval base and also Japanese control of the northern sea-belt.

A message from Kewilin states that according to informed circles the Japanese and French negotiators at Hanoi agreed: (1) To the landing of Japanese troops at Haiphong with passage only along the railway. (2) To the landing of 30,000 Japanese only, in order not to exceed twothirds of the French garrison at Tonking. (3) The Japanese to use Hanoi airfield.

The Japanese, however, are insisting on landing 120,000 troops, for which reason the negotiations are dragging on. The Hanoi correspondent of the Associated Press of America says that the Japanese Consul-General warned Japanese nationals to prepare to leave Indo-China if Franco-Japanese relations deteriorate after the conference on the question of the entry of Japanese troops into French territory. He added that ships were going to Haiphong to evacuate Japanese. The French are prepared to continue the negotiations, but are equally determined to reject the Japanese representations if they are in the form of an ultimatum.

In the House of Lords, Lord Caldecote, Secretary for Dominion Affairs, made a statement on the situation in Indo-China: “His Majesty’s Government has no definite information as to the course of proceedings, but in view of current reports to the effect that Japan has been pressing Indo-China to allow the passage of Japanese troops, the British Government has made it clear to the Japanese Government that it is interested in the maintenance of the status quo in that area.” Addressing the final meeting of. the Preparatory Commission, the Prime Minister of Japan, . Prince Fumimaro Konoye, sajd: “I think Japan’s situation will become increasingly serious in the near future, for which reason Japan’s 100,000,060 people must act as one in an effort to surmount this national emergency.”

HOME GUARD MEMBER DECORATED

MILITARY MEDAL FOR ACT OF BRAVERY (British Official Wireless) (Received September 18, 6.30 p.m.) RUGBY, September 17. For the first time a military decoration has been awarded to a member of the Home Guard. The London Gazette announces that Volunteer Jones receives the Military Medal for an act of bravery officially described in these words:—

“Volunteer Jones, a member of the Home Guard posted in defence of a vital point, was on guard when the post was bombed. One man was killed and one- seriously wounded. Jones, who was himself in a place of safety, on hearing the groans of the wounded man at once left his shelter and carried him on his back to a place of safety. During this time bombs, debris, large pieces of steel work and heavy glass were still falling. Jones carried out his task with complete disregard for his own safety.”

BRITISH SHIPPING LOSSES

(British Official Wireless) RUGBY, September 17. Mercantile losses as a result of enemy action for the week ending September 8 were:—

British,—Ten vessels of 28,000 tons. Allied.—Four vessels of 18,499 tons. Neutral.—Two vessels of 7848 tons. The figure for losses of British tonnage does not include tonnage which may prove to have been sunk by air attacks on September 7, 8 and 9, full details of which are not yet available. Subject to this proviso, the tonnage lost during the week fell to a little more than the average for the previous 52 weeks—s3,9oo tons—and British tonnage lost was below the average for the same period of 30,100 tons.