JAPANESE DEMAND

Wairarapa Times-Age, 4 September 1940, Page 5

JAPANESE DEMAND

FOR PASSAGE OF TROOPS .THROUGH INDO-CHINA. ULTIMATUM REJECTED. An ultimatum was presented on Sunday by the Japanese to IndoChina, demanding the passage of Japanese troops through IndoChina, Daventry reports. The ultimatum was rejected. REPORTED REVOLT AGAINST VICHY GOVERNMENT. DECLARATION OF JAPANESE CONCERN. TOKIO, September 3. The “Asahi Shimbun’s” Hong Kong correspondent says that the Vichy Govrnment is making a desperate effort to retain control of Indo-China and has telegraphed the naval and military commanders urging loyalty against the separatists.

In Vichy the Ministry of Colonies has requested the German and Italian Armistice Commission to act to assure French control, the correspondent declares.

The same newspaper in another message says it is reported from Hong Kong that the French naval authorities are blocking the port of Haiphong against foreign warships. In an editorial the “Asahi Shimbun"

states that, while the particulars were unknown of a reported revolt in French Indo-China, if insurgents had really rallied to General de Gaulle Japan could not but be concerned, because General de Gaulle was a mere puppet of the British Government. Regarding New Caledonia and the New Hebrides, it states that Japan would not relax her vigilance over them. “Whenever the increasing performance of aircraft is considered Ja-

pan must extend her vision farther and farther toward the pacific,” it adds. NO PASSAGE FOR TROOPS

PERMISSION TO LAND PLANES AT HANOI. (Received This Day. 11.20 a.m.) SAIGON, September 3. It is officially stated that the authorities on September 1 refused a Japanese ultimatum for the passage of Japanese troops through Indo-China. A Tokio message stales that Japanese planes are to be permitted to land at Hanoi on the Japan-Formosa-Thai-land service. Permission for such landings was one of Japan’s recent demands on Indo-China.