Evening star., 1941-12-05
Vichy Assent Ainted
In japanese Move
Into |ndo.China
Absence Of Any Protest
Held indication Petoin
May Be On AccompIiee
Nv PERTINAX.

It is a remarkable fact that the
Vichy government up to this day
has not lodged any protest what
ever against the landing in the
southern part of Indo = China
called Cochin -China-of numerous
bodies of Japanese troops which
must have brought the total
strength of the army Of occupation
to 10000 or even perhaps 100000
men.
The arms and ammunition accu-
mulated in that region by the jap
anese command, including tanks.
trucks and motor vehicles OF every
description, and the huge military
supplies piled up there, clearly in
dicate that those troops are not IN
tended to carry out routine duties,
but have been gathered for action
and will strike somewhere.
On account Of its passivity is the
Vichy government to be regarded as
an accomplice?
The explanation given out IN
Vichy is that the Japanese military
authorities have not so far tres
passed on the limit OF the treaty
for the Joint defense Of Indo-Chlna
signed July 20. 1t has been said
that Japan pledged herself by that
diplomatic instrument not to garri-
son Indo-China with more than
about 10000 men.
Details Secret.
Vichy's retort is that the military
part of the July convention was
never made public for the good rea-
son that defensive arrangements
had better not be advertised and
that no figure whatever was ever
put down on paper. Indeed, in the
first Vichy-Tokio agreement con-
cluded in September, 1910, an article
was inserted which bound Japan
not to send more than 10000 men TO
Tonkin. But Tonkin is only a part
Of Indo-China and the arrangement
arrived at in July didn't Supersede
the former one.
According to that treaty, the Jap
anese command is authorized TO
station at the most in the northern
|
| to China the equivalent of one single
division, but it is at liberty in the
/ south to assemble a much larger
military force
Since the relevant texts drafted by
the negotiators in Vlchy and Toxic
are being kept secret, no outside
observer can determine whether the
government of Marshal Petain is or
is not really entitled to demonstrate
with Japan about the recent influx
of japanese electives. But assum-
ing that the above explanation Is
we'll founded, the responsibility as
sumed by that government in July
is still heavier than was imagined
five months ago.
The door of Indo-China was flung
wide open to the invasion. No safe
guards, however futile, were provided
for in the compromise" Today
there is a possibility for the JAP
anese to claim that the troops now
uuartered in the south are merely
reinforcements of the Tonkin gar
rison which in the terms OF the 1910
agreement must not be increased.
Therefore, they can insist that 1t
is not to be inferred that the lnde-
pendence of Thailand is IN danger.
If the worst comes to worst 1ndo-
China will be treated by British and
Americans in the same way as oc-
cupied France irrespective OF Vlchy S
arguments and reactions. 1t will be-
come legitimate field OF operations.
Another point deserves TO De
stressed. Students of Far Eastern
affairs begin to wonder whetner
Burma is not likely to supply Japa-
nese policy with a better pretext TO
carry out it's program OF expansion
than Thailand itself. In Burma the
population is Buddhist and anti
Chinese.
Protector for Burma.
It was reported from London re-
Gently that the head of the Burma
government had failed to convince
Winston Churchill that the status
of a dominion should be conceded to
his country after the war and was
on his way to Washington to visit
President Roosevelt.
Obviously, there are in Burma
causes of public discomfort Japar
might exploit, while in Thailand, sc
powerful is the Chinese influence
that the Bangkok government al
ways made it a principle not tt
entertain any diplomatic relation!
with Peiping, Marking or Chung
king lest its own position at home
be weakened or undermined
, The Toxic government would fine
it exceedingly useful in present cir
cumstances to be able to style itsel
the protector of an oppressed Asiatit
nation