WORDS & DEEDS

Wairarapa Times-Age, 21 February 1941, Page 6

WORDS & DEEDS

JAPANESE “.MEDIATION”

SWEEPING DEMANDS MADE. — | ON THAILAND & INDO-CHINA. j (By Telegraph—Press Association —Copyright) (Received This Dav, 11.15 a.m.) TOKIC). February 20. Violating the armistice agreement, Indo-Chinese troops along the border fired on Thai troops on February 18, says a Japanese report, quoting a Bangkok nev/s--paper, which adds that the Thai forces did not reply. The Dome! news agency stated that there wore mounting indications of a rapid drift of the Indo-China authorities to the pro-British camp of General cd Gaulle. A survey revealed the successive adoption by the French authorities of economic and military measures designed to checkmate Japanese influence in South-East Asia. The tendency .was increasing as a result, of the strong British and American reaction to Japanese mediation in the Thailand-Indo-China conflict, coupled with the massing of British. Indian and Australian forces on Thailand’s southern and western borders. The British, aiding French military preparations had sent 200 planes to Saigon from Singapore. The British were also sending ammunition to China via IndoChina. with the connivance of the French. j The Associated Press of America!

Shanghai correspondent reports that Japan made such sweeping military and economic demands cn Thailand and French Indo-China at the peace conference in Tokio that the proceedings were brought to a standstill.