The Vichy Government yesterday condenined old Thai claims on Indo-China and indirectly struck at Japan for interfering in" Indo-China and foreing territorial cessions to Thal The Government issued a statement which sdid that under the 1908 and 1907 treaties on Juridical foundation existed for Thailand's territorial claims on Indo-China and added that France signed the latest pact in order fo erase one of the many trouble centres which Tokyo wanted dimi ated in order to establish peace in East Asia, The new statement clearly indicated that France ceded to force because it could not do otherwise as a con-—Dor sequence of defeat in the European war. "Vichy, however. did not recognize the legality of Thai claims.
'The statement noted that in the past France und Thailand pressed claims against each other when one or the other momentarily was militarily weak. "Cambodian territory often changed hands. the' statement said, adding significantly: "One can say' that this is a Franco-Japanese Between Thailand and Indo-China is "The question now raised is whether. "as a consequence of the signature. "Japan will remove her military observers from Thailand and Indo-China and the 19 Japanese warships, including one aircraft carrier. Two of the ships are anchored at Bangkok and the others are outside the Manam bar and along the south coast, said the statement, "There also are two Japanese cruisers in Indo-China waters."
"Other observers." the statement continued, "raised the suggestion that Thailand eventually may be called on Japan to allow construction of a ship canal across the Kral Isthmus which would greatly shorten the maritime routes and have the advantage of turning Singapore which would Jose its present value as British watch dog of the East." United Press,
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