FRANCE & THAILAND

Wairarapa Times-Age, 12 March 1941, Page 7

FRANCE & THAILAND

PEACE AGREEMENT SIGNE!) JOINT COMMUNIQUE. JAPAN'S SOUTHWARD POLICY. ißy Telegraph—Press Association—Copyright.) TOKIO, March 11. France and Thailand today accepted and signed the Japanese mediation plan in a joint communique which revealed some modifications of the original Japanese plan. The newspaper “Niehl Nichi” says the Thailand-French peace agreement marks the first concrete steps in Japan's southward policy. The “Asahi" says the agreement marks (he first establishment of Japan's right to leadership in East Asia. Chinese reports from Hong Kong confirm Japanese claims that they seized large quantities of materials, including 1000 bales of cotton yarn and 10,000 drums of lung oil, stored in Shiutung and intended for export to the United States. “THIRD POWER” JAPAN CANNOT OVERLOOK MACHINATIONS. CALCULATED TO HAMPER “MISSION." TOKIO. March 11. At the Indo-China-Thailand peace pact signing ceremony M. Arsene Henry looked tired and Mr Matsuoka's countenance was unusually severe. After the ceremony the Foreign Office issued a statement giving a summary of the negotiations, which began on January 20. The statement said the situation was complicated with a third Power’s machinations. Needless to say Japan absolutely cannot overlook these machinations, amidst disturbances calculated to hamper her mission for the establishment of common prosperity in East Asia. The difficult task of mediation has been amicably settled, despite a third Power’s attempt at obstruction and accusations that Japan was seeking her own advantage, but all such intrigues have been exploded, demonstrating Japan’s fair attitude. The Associated Press of Great Britain reports that diplomatic circles believe Japan already is assured of and will receive the total rice crop and timber output from the ceded areas, which are very rich in rice producing.