CRISIS AT HANOI

Taranaki Daily News, 21 September 1940, Page 8

CRISIS AT HANOI

By Telegraph.—Press Assn.—Copyright.

ULTIMATUM FROM TOKIO FRESH DEMANDS MADE JAPANESE MOVING OUT

Rec. 12.50 a.m. Shanghai, Sept. 20. Japan has presented new demands to Indo-China, it is officially stated from Hanoi. No reference to new demands was made, however, in to-day's Press conference at Tokio, where it was stated the negotiations were proceeding smoothly. The new demands to Indo-China are in the form of an ultimatum, which it is believed will expire at midnight next Sunday, are thought to deal mainly with the granting of permanent naval and air bases. Japaneses evacuation began this morning. The Governor-General, Admiral Decoux, is making available every facilitv "although," he says, "there is no reason for evacuation." Farewell Call. The situation in Indo-China was stated at midnight last night to be critical. Since Japanese missioners announced they were leaving, the head of the Japaneses mission, Major-General Nishihara, had made a farewell call on Admiral Decoux. A French communique issued at Hanoi yesterday stated "Negotiations have now reached a delicate phase. The Japanese presented new demands incompatible with instructions from Vichy and the previous agreement." The Associated Press Hanoi correspondent says that a Japanese spokesman announced that all Japanese civilian nationals in Indo-China were being removed to special trains, '> beginning today, before the prospective arrival of Japanese troops. From Chungking it is stated that the Radio Saigon (French) announced that the French and Japanese negotiations at Hanoi were being continoed regarding the execution of a diplomatic agreement which has already been reached. American, British and French quarters at Shanghai strongly report that the six French warships which recently passed Gibraltar are" en route to Indo-China in accordance with a reported AngloFrench agreement to maintain IndoChina's status quo.