EARLY SHOWDOWN

Taranaki Daily News, 19 September 1940, Page 7

EARLY SHOWDOWN

POSITION OF INDO-CHINA TALK OF TURN TO BRITAIN

Rec. 12.45 a.m. Shanghai, Sept. 18. Qualified observers express the opinion that a showdown is coming this week, when possibly IndoChina will swing to General de Gaulle,. accompahied by an appeal for British and American assistance. The Japanese are withdrawing money from banks in Indo-China. It is confirmed that a special train was recently sent to the headquarters of King Bao Dai "awaiting instructions." Newspapers at Hongkong state that General Nishihara, leader of the Japanese mission to Indo-China, presented the following final demands to Vice-Admiral Decoux, the Governor-General of IndoChina:— (1) Indo-China to be divlded into three sections. Tonking under Japanese controi, Annam as a buffer zon'e, and southern provinces to remain under French controi. (2) Establishment of a Japanese air base at Hanoi. » (3) Establishment of a Japanese naval base and Japanese controi of the northern sea belt. A message from Kwellln states that a, cording to informed circles the Japanese and French negotiators at Hanoi agreed to: — (1) Tlie landing of Japanese troops at Haipliong with passage only along the railway. (2) The landing of 30,000 Japanese only. in order not to exceed two-thirds of tlie French garrison at Tongking. (3) Japanese use of the Hanoi airfield. The japanese, however. are lnsisung on landing 120,000 troops, for which reason the negotiations are dragging on. The Associated Press Hanoi correspondent says that the Japanese consulgeneral' has warned Japanese nationals to prepare to leave Indo-China If French and Japanese relations deteriorate after the conference on the question of the entry of Japanese troops to French territory. He added that ships are going to Haiphong to remove Japanese. Although officially evacuation haa not been ordered yet, many Japanese have gone. Eight minor members of the Japanese mission have gone to Canton by plane. The Fronch are prepared to continue the negotiations, but are equally determined to reject Japanese representationa if they are in the form of an ultimatum.