Evening star., 1942-08-25
Pacific War Almost Started
Month Earlier in Indo-Chinu
French Officiuis'
Stubbornness Said
To Have Delayed 1t
BY JOE DYNAN,

ABOARD THE s. S. GRIPS.
HOLM, Aug. 25.-The Pacific wal
almost started a month earlier ane
in a different way. Only the stub.
borness of some French officials ir
Indo- China and, apparently. Spe.
cial Ambassador Saburo Kurusu'.
trip to Washington delayed it.
This was disclosed by the off1cia
report of an unidentified member Of
the japanese general staff in Ma
laya to his superiors at imperial
headquarters. This report, which
bore no name, was published early
in May in the Japan Times-Adver-
tiser and the English edition of the
Toxic Nichi Nichi. I was able to
read it in the concentration camp.
In the report, the officer de-
scribed the increasing concentration
OF troops in Southern Indo-C China
throughout late summer 'and early
autumn, and the preparation in
September and October for action.
The plan, he wrote, was to assume
command of the air over Northern
Malaga with the aid Of planes based
on q small French island of the
coast of Malaga near the Thai
Malaga frontier. These planes
would support troops advancing
south from Thailand and any lsnd-
ing operations on the Malayan toast
Were to Open Road to Singapore.
In particular, he said, these planes
were to destroy British airfields In
Northern Maiaya, bomb out any
British naval force which attempted
to intercept landing parties and
dive-bomb and strafe British troops
attempting to hold a line at the
Thai border. In brief, they were to
open the road to Singapore, as
later they did.
The attack was scheduled to start
November 3, "Meiji-Setsu" or me-
mortal day for Emperor Meiji, but
in September and October wher
the Japanese were preparing thi.
thrust, Japanese Army officials hac
to go to Hanoi and ask permission
of the French to construct this base
The French, he said in effect, re.
fused.
They told us they could not SCI
how base on this island could be
considered a defensive post. The,
said it was obviously intended fol
offensive action and they could moi
permit the construction"
So, the report continued, it wa.
with great regret" that the higf
command for the Malaga thrust hae
to delay the start.
Up to this time, everything hae
been done properly, through th'
regular channels of reporting tt
Toxic and negotiating with tn,
French authorities in Indo- China.
Went Ahead Without Permission.
Mindful, however, of the "augus
virtues" of his imperial majesty
the Malayan command next made 6
vital decision.
1--WE decided to go ahead withou
permission" the report continued
without informing the French of
flcials in Hanoi or even informin,
Toxic, we occupied the island ant
began constructing the base at rusl
speed.
by working day and night ",
were able to have it ready for uss
against Northern Malaga when th'
war finally started December g." q
was December Pacific time wher
Japan attacked Pearl Harbor)
November 3. it will be remem
bered, was only two days befor,
kurusu left on his flight to Wash.
ington.
A japanese foreign Office oticia
had telephoned the United State.
Embassy in Toxic and pleaded with
Ambassador Grew to have tn,
Clipper held at Hong Kong loni
enough for Kurusu to board It.
If he doesn't make it," he to!e
Mr.. Grew, 1T will be too late"
Perhaps the Kurusu trip was 8
sincere attempt by the foreign
ONCE to avert war. Perhaps 1t wa.
another episode In the interna
quarrels between Japanese civil au.
thorities and the japanese arm,
clique. Or perhaps it was, after al
just a blind to gain time.
Only the secret files of the Toki,
foreign office can ever reveal tn,
truth.