TURN TO BRITAIN

Taranaki Daily News, 19 September 1940, Page 7

TURN TO BRITAIN

British Official Wireless.

INDO-CHINA'S ONLY HOPE

Rec. 5.5 p.m. N Rugby, Sept. 17. General Catroux, former Governor of Indo-China, who has rallied to the cause of General de Gaulle, said to-night that t'-e fact. that he was in London was the best proof that he fully adhered to the Free France movement and to co-opera-tion with Britain. "I address to all Frenchmen, wherever they are in the world, the most pressing appeal to join the movement," he added. "Indo-China, the same as the entire French Empire, will be saved only by the resurrection of France and the victory of Britain. Each new proof of British resistance amplifies the movement in France and the French colonies towards all those who have at heart the cause of the free French forces." General Catroux, after referring to negotiations with the Japanese, especially as regards the products of that eountry, said he was sure Indo-China fully linderstood that the maintenance of the agreement with Britain was most necessary. This was why he took the decision to safeguard Indo-China, not in the name of the Petain Government. but for France. In the House of Lords Lord Caldecote made a sta-tement similar to that of Mr. Churchill in the Commons. Lord Caldecote added a sliort statement on the situation in Indo-China. "His Majesty's Government has no definite information about 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 ln the maintenance of the status quo ln that area," he said.