Evening star., 1941-02-28
By TIE Associated Press.

BY TIE Associated Press.
TOXIC, March Saturday -
Japan's ultimatum to the French
that they agree to yield to Thai
land large areas of the Indo-
China provinces of Cambodia
and Laos or suffer "forceful &C
ton" by Japanese armed forces
expired at midnight Friday with
out a reply.
Authoritative sources said the
Japanese Foreign Office was plan
ming an extraordinary conference of
key officials later this morning. to
which Indo-China peace conference
delegates would be invited for an ex-
planation of why the French have
not replied.
The nature of future japanese &C
ton will depend on an analysis of
the French explanation, it was
stated.
TN Saigon, French Indo-China,
reports irculated-without con-
firmation-that japanese naval
vessels totaling 81 vessels of vari-
Gus claSSif1cations were in the
Gulf of Siam and waters off
Southern Indo-China
(Domei. japanese news agen-
cy reported in a broadcast from
Toxic that the war minister.
Gen. Eiki TOTO. was received in
audience today by Emperor Hiro-
hito. to whom he reported re-
garding matters under his juris-
diction." An imperial audience
for the war minister sometimes
is prelude to important Japan
ese military action
Matsuoka Leaves Dinner.
The japanese Foreign Office at
taches had waited up in their wood
en- building until midnight, although
it had been apparent by midevening
that the French were not going to
meet the ultimatum deadline.
Foreign Minister YoSuke Matsuoka
attended a dinner honoring the
Manchukuo Ambassador, but left
it at pm. and went to his home
to await developments.
These were signs of the serious
ness With which Japan watched the
outcome of this first test of her East
Asian leadership since the Rome
Berlin Toxic alliance allotted her
a sphere of influence in Greater
East Asia"
A spokesman for the japanese
cabinet shortly before midnight de-
clined to speculate on prospective
Japanese action, saying, That is
too delicate a question"
AS previously expressed by a re-
liable informant, Japan planned the
alternative of "forceful action to win
justice for Thailand" and it was
understood that, in lack of French
agreement. the matter would pass
to the jurisdiction of the japanese
military command now in Indo-
China.
The spokesman likewise had de-
clined to speculate on whether a
reply is expected later today or, if,
in such case, it would be accepted.
1t had been reliably understood
that Japan would grant a de-
lay only if convinced that the
French were not playing for time
Aim Seen to Prolong Farley.
An extension would be granted by
the japanese in case the French
colonial administration proved that
it was waiting only for Vichy's con-
flrmation of acceptance of the jap
anese plan for settlement of the
frontier dispute.
japanese observers considered
French silence at this dramatic mo-
ment as an attempt to prolong the
Toxic negotiations until expiration
March 7 of the armistice in the
border warfare between Indo-C China
and Thailand.
Domel, japanese news agency. re-
ported under Saigon date line that
French officers we're realizing that
Japan intends to take forceful &C
ton" The agency did not amplify
this.
1t was authoritatively learned that
a French counter-proposal, delivered
Thursday by the French Ambassa
dor, Charles Arsene Henry, offered
to yield certain northern areas
parts of Laos-to Thailand, but fiat
ly refused cession of any part OF
Cambodia.
Some hours before midnight it
became evident that no French re-
(See FAR EAST, Page A-3D