Evening star., 1941-07-23
Far East
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Northern Indo-China and has troops
! garrisoned at Hanoi and at Haip-
hong. chief northern seaport.
Widespread reports have indicated
she would also demand footholds in
! Saigon, chief city of the south, and
( perhaps at Camranh Bay. naval
base Of the southeast coast of Indo-
! China.
Move Within Week Seen.
Foreign military quarters in
Shanghai, noting an ominous series
of japanese war preparations, de-
clared Japan was girding to invade
Indo-China within week.
An Australian broadcast from
Sydney said Britain, the United
States, the Netherlands Indies and
Australia were fully aware of the
threatened danger and had engaged
in the fullest consultations" on
problems of defense.
Authoritative London quarters
said the United States and Brit
ain were keeping each other fully
informed of the Far Eastern situa-
ton Confidence was expressed in
London that any japanese adven-
ture in China would bring
quick retaliation from the United
States, possibly in forms already
invoked against other Axis powers.
Qualified London observers ex-
pressed belief that the people of
Britain and the Dominions would
welcome drastic counteraction in the
Far East just as in Syria and were
unlikely to condone 'watchful watt
ing policy by the British govern
ment while Japan strengthened her
hold on Indo-China.
May Clarity Situation.
This belief was supported bv the
general acceptance of Prime Minis
ter ChurchillS declaration that who-
ever marches with Hitler is Brit
aims foe. The assumption in Lon
don Is that any new japanese mill
tary adventure would have Ger
many's blessing
In unofficial quarters. it was fore
cast that japanese move against
1ndo-China, either with or with.
out Vlchys consent. might clarity
what has been regarded in London
as an ambiguous relationship be-
tween the Petain government and
the United States.
There has been marked lack of
enthusiasm in Britain for the
United States plan of relaxing the
blockade sufficiently to permit food
and oil TO reach French North
Africa, and Britons now are eager
TO see whether Vichy has been
sufficiently impressed by this evil
dence of American friendliness 10
make French leaders take into
account possible displeasure over
collaboration with Toxic.
Censorship Reported.
In Washington. President Roose-
welt took occasion at his press con-
ference yesterday to disclose Navy
report that Toxic had clamped a
censorship on both radio and cable.
He answered affirmatively when
asked if he considered this action
significant.
From Toxic the japanese news
agency Domei, however. broadcast a
statement by authoritative sources"
admitting that restrictions had been
imposed on the use of foreign Ian
guages in outgoing kilograms and in
telephone talks. but denying that
any new censorship had been i'm
posed.
The Japanese government an
nounced July IA that henceforth
kilograms could be sent abroad only
in Japanese, English or German,
that messages in code must be &C
companied by translation and that
all messages must be signed.
Forces Massed at Hainan.
Reports from Shanghai said Jap
aneSe troops, planes and ships were
maSsed at Hainan. an island of the
South China coast opposite Indo-
China, for the expected move into
the French colony, and that jap
aneSe fleet transports were stand
ing by near the mouth OF the Pearl
River.
Peiping dispatches said there was
a growing belief that Japan's armies
in North China and Manchukuo
were in the midst of important
shifts. Well-grounded reports said
20 troopladen japanese trains had
been seen moving north in the past
few days. possibly headed for the
port of Chinwangtao, where they
could embark for movement SOUTH
ward.
Domei said the Emperor's privy
council would meet in extraordinary
session before the end of the week
to discuss various questions con-
fronting Japan.
The councillors met at the palace
today with the Emperor and all
members of the cabinet for the first
time since Premier Prince Fumimaro
Konoye formed his new cabinet last
week.