Singapore, Mar, 13, Simultaneously with the departure from Tokyo of the Japanese Foreign Minister to confer with his Axis partners, authoritative reports reached here today indicating that a potential counter-axis" was nearing completion, The plan, the Australian source: said, envisages regimentation of the fentife Allied resources, "including [South Atviea, British India, British Interests throughout China and the Netherlands East ndies—United Press, manded, and for the greater part re~ jeained only those lands which France took from her. It was also stressed that these areas would be demilitar-
The "Baltimore Sun," however, Jdeclared that recognition of Japan's moderation must be withheld until two questions are answered, first, how Japan will use the peace which engineered, and secondly, what Thailand's future relations with Japan will be, Although admitting that Japan Jdoes not seem to have claimed any Inow strategic footholds as a price for pence-making, the paper wondered whether this would come Jat Domei, Act of Caution Lyons, Mar. 12, "An act of caution and reason" is now "Lo Temps" terms France's deeision in regard to the Franco-Thai Jdispute, pointing out that the same motives caused France to agree to the Franco-Japanese treaty of Aunust "The situation in which we found ourselves following our defeat Europe made It necessary, although we were determined to defend our Empire and did so against any acts fof aggression, to save Indo-China without "running the risk, which Would have been tragic {or us, of having to wage a war far from our shores," the paper added, "In the speech which he delivered yesterday Foreign Minister Yosuke Matsuoka of Japan stressed that through the Prance-Thai agreement the conditions of the ce-existence of JJapan, France and Thailand have been consolidated, and this is-a con eibution towards the establishment Jof peace in Greater East Asia'." "Lo Temps" went on, "It is in this' spirit that France, as' far as she is con-Jeerned, gave a proof of her willing Jness 16 agree to a conciliation compatible with her national and Imperial dignity."—Havas Telemondial.
Text read from the printed page and cleaned; old type leaves the occasional error.