Evening star., 1931-12-14
PAR|S-TOK|0 PACT
TO SEIZE CHINESE
TERRITORY IS SEEN
Reports of French Advance
Against "Brigands" Held
to Confirm Plan.
AGREEMENT DECLARED
MADE IN 1928 OR 1929
France Said to Aim at Replacing
British as Greatest Co.
lonial Power.
BY CONSTANTINE BROWN.

Dispatches received this morning
from Canton throw an entirely new
light on the Chinese situation
These dispatches indicate that the
Cantonese government is seriously
worried about the penetration of
French troops into Southern China ito
pursue brigands."
This news does not surprise certain
we'll informed circles in Washington.
1t merely tends to confirm reports re-
Ceived here recently about the existence
of japanese French agreement dating
back to 1923 and 1929 wherein tie
present developments in China were
envisaged by both governments. Ac-
cording to reliable reports, visits were
exchanged between japanese and
French high officials residing in Indo-
China for the purpose of reaching an
understanding regarding certain parts
of China which should not be under
the control of the weak and corrupt
Chinese administration.
Manchuria Referred To.
ne IeSlOllS lSlellcu W NCiS
churia and the province of Yunan. The
latter is situated north of Tonkin-a
French colony-and is the main cara
van path between Tibet, Burma and
the sea- This tentative understanding is
reported to have been made definite
during the visit of one of the japanese
princes to Paris.
The French colonial office has never
of hainC aSlppn In the
last five years it has followed closely
the developments in the British Empire,
and has come to the conclusion that
the British Empire, such as the world
has known it for the last three CEN
turies. is coming to an end. Three years
ago the French government was not
convinced that it could reach the power
it has now. Nevertheless, in order not
to be caught unprepared it made GER
tain arrangements with the japanese re-
garding China. which could be bene-
fetal if things turned favorably for
France
The occupation of Manchuria by the
japanese in defiance of the League of
Nations and other pacts did not cause
any indignation in France.
BRAND Position Strong.
1t is true that BRAND personally TOOK
q very strong position, but French pub
lie opinion never backed the French
foreign minister. On the contrary, in
military circles the question arose as to
whether this was the psychological mo-
pent to take advantage of the disturbed
situation of the world and occupy the
important Province of Yunan, that pant
of China which is situated on the bor-
derS of the French possession on the
Chinese mainland and has been like
thorn on the sides of the French gov
ernorS of Indo-China,
The Yunan Province is important to
the French for two reasons First OF
all it has a population whose principal
occupation is bandtry and piracy. For
generations the Yunanites have been
harassing the French by frequent in
cursions into Tonkin. Their invasions
have kept that section of 1ndo-China
restless: the Tonkinese frequently
Joined their neighbors, causing trouble
to the French army OF occupation.
Foresee India's Secession.
The second reason why Yunan is to-
day more important than it was few
years ago is that the French foresee
the secession of India from Britain
within a comparatively short time.
They also believe that this will be fol-
lowed by an anarchic period in India
be only too happy to be close to pow
erful and friendly western nation.
An early occupation of Yunan >uld
place France in favorable position to
eventually exploit the rich oil fields of
Burma and bring their products to
French ports situated in Asia.
A plan for the econ mic penetration
Of Yunan had been formulated some
10 years ago, when French bank for
the development of China had obtained
important railroad concessions and
mineral rights in that Southern Chinese
province The bank, whose president
was Mr. Berthelot, the brother of the
present underSecretary of state of the
French foreign office, failed, but the
concessions are still In existence.
Want to DispIace Britain.
To rely on Chinese promises and con-
eessions is a poor policy, when it is pos
sible today to take anything a strong
nation needs. The japanese govern
ment has given a powerful illustration
of this fact to the world in the last
three months
The developments in Manchuria and
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