Vichy, Sept. 19.
France cannot take into considetation any demands against the polit cal status and territorial integrity of Indo-China, the French Government told the Thai Minister here when he presented claims for revision of the Thai-Indo Chinese frontier, France the Government added, is determined in all circumstances to defend Indo-China against any foreign attack.
The French Government was all the more astonished when it learned of Thailand's demands, because the Thai and French Government for some time have been negotiating clearer demarcation of. the frontier along the Mekong River, and these negotiations were proceeding smooth-
"Nothing to Do with Japan"
Tokyo, Sept. 19.
Japan has nothing to do with Thailand's demands on. France for the return of lost territory now incor-ported in French Indo-China, the spokesman of the Foreign Office declared today in commenting on a French statement which, he alleged, indirectly blamed Japan for Thailand's demands.
He added that "the negotiations now going on in Indo-China between the Japanese authorities.and local French authorities have no connection with the non-aggression pact between Thailand and ce, Thailand's demands to ce."
Reuter.
French army leaders here, it was said, would prefer to resist a Japanese invasion rather than oppose by force a Chinese counter-invasion. This feeling was said to be particularly strong among French officers on the Chinese frontier where relations between the French and Chinese forces were said to be very cordial.
Although some officials on both the Japanese and French side said the} i signing of an agreement was imminent, members of the Japanese mission kept their suitcases packed for a sudden evacuation. This gesture, however, was regarded as a bluff in some quarters.
Few Chinese civilians have evacuate ed from Hanoi or withdrawn their money from local banks. The eva-enation of Japanese civilians continu.
terday, however; and most shops here were deserted last night.
Considerable sentiment exists here favouring transfer of allegiance to the de Gaulle committee in London, but there are no immediate indications that this will occur. Local Frenchmen apparently believe that unity is the most important factor in confronting Japanese pressure so that disorders over allegiance to Vichy or the de Gaulle committee do not appear imminent.
Britain also is believed to be opposed to a transfer of French allegiance here at the present time because such a development would merely increase Britain's responsibilities in the Orient at a time when she is almost wholly preoccupied with repulsing Nazi attacks against the British Isles.
French sentiment here remains friendly toward Britain, however, and local businessmen especially are amxious to maintain cordial commercial relations with the British Empire.
Some quarters reported here last night that even if a Franco-Japanese agreement is signed here this week, further negotiations will still be necessary. Thay indicated that the agreement now under negotiation is similar to that recently reached between Vichy and "Tokyo, leaving many details to be worked out in future negotiations—United Press.
Text read from the printed page and cleaned; old type leaves the occasional error.