MAY FIGHT

Taranaki Daily News, 23 September 1940, Page 8

MAY FIGHT

By Telegraph.—Press Assn.—Copyright.

FRENCH IN EAST JAPANESE ULTIMATUM drive south planned

Rec. 7.30 p.m. Hanoi, Sept. II. French authorities said they would resist a Japanese landing if it was attempted to enforce the ultimatum that the negotiations for military rights for Japan should be speedily concluded. The Hanoi correspondent of the United Press of America said yesterday that the authorities were taking emergency measures. The new Japanese demands had apparently been rejected. French mobilisation was almost complete and troops were reported to be ready to move at short notice. Trains are standing by to evacuate women and children to the south. Indies Their Goal. It is believed at Tokio that the imperial conference has irrevocably decided on an immediate push southward, including the Dutch East Indies. Then an attempt will be made to force the United States to lift embargoes in return for Indies tin and rubber. The Japanese believe that in view of the revelation by M. Baudouin (French Foreign Minister) of the United States failure to promise definite support to Indo-China the French will probably accept the Japanese demands.' The main Japanese objective is naval bases, from which they would almost immediately strike at the East Indies before anticipated American embargoes could ■be effective. Nippon Airways has suspended its Hanoi service and removed all its equipment. Japanese evacuation ships at Saigon have sailed but as far as is known Japanese have not yet left Haippong. The French Foreign Office at Vichy announced that Tokio had demanded a swift conclusion of the talks. No Threat to Sovereignty. General Nishishara (head of the Japanese mission), said: "The Japanese attitude does not threaten Indo-China's territorial integrity nor French sovereignty, but Japan was convinced that the situation demanded a time limit for a detailed and final settlement." He added that the Japanese attitude was based on a Tokio-Vichy understanding, providing that the French and Japanese settle locally details of military facilities which can be granted to Japan for the facilitation of operations against Marshal Chiang Kai-shek.