Vichy, Feb. 22.
The Japanese delegation submitted 'a compromise proposal whereby That-Iand would obtain the following: In the North, the pocket formed by Mhalland in the peninsula on the Bight bank of the Mekong River; the Pakse region on the right bank of the Mekong, and those parts of Laos and Cambodia provines, which came French In 1907. The territory {neluded in the compromise proposal amounts to some 40,000 square mil After close examination in Vichy, the proposal is considered clearly ox:
Despite alarmist reports from outside hinting of the imminence of a Far Eastern, flare-up and the possibility of a' British invasion across the Malaya border, the situation is very quiet.
'The Siumese Government has' al ready made it clear that there is no danger whatever from the British, Armistice Ends Feb. 25
Foreign Minister, 4 has informed. the: Thal Government that the extension fof the Indo-China truce ends at 10 tim, on February 25.—Reuter, The fact that the Council of Min" Isters, at its last meeting, devoted most of its time to the examination of the Far Eastern situation is ex. plained by Indo-China's geographical position as a junction through which pass various strategic lines which would' make her the centre of an eventual conflict in the Far Bast.
Britain's strategic line extends from the upper flow of the Mekong River, where the frontiers of Burma, Yunnan province, Tonkin and Thal-land afoot, to the Samoa islands, Australia snd India are the popul tion centres of this line. Hongk: constitutes the advanced fortress of Britain's defence, While Japan i trying to end the China affair in order to have a free hand in hey southward drive, it does not seem that the hostilities between China and Japan will be Tiquidated in the near future, the Chungking. rogima being supported by Great Britain and the United States, The Lend and. Lease HI at present being debated in" Washington provides for further ald to Chin.
However, it Is clear that if Japan can bring about an understanding be~ ween the Chungking and Nanking regimes in China, the situation in the "South Seas would become more threatening.
Armed Forces Gathered Ju this huge ared, which is partly Jand and sea, the most important sees or extends directly North and East of Singapore. To dhe North there is the Burma frontier, where 40,000 troops are said to be massed. These troops defend access to India by the famous Mandalay, Road.
The naturally powerful position of Singapore was further strengthened by the construction of Important defences. The British Far Eastern High Command has reinforced the normal eace-time garrison of $0,000 men by several large contingents of Austia-Man troops. The Singapore air force estimated at some 1,200 planes.
To the South-East come the Dutch possessions.
Holland, England's ally in the war against Germany, may help Britain considerably in the Far East, The Netherlands tches has a_sihail but wells rained army'and a feet which ig not to be despised, The harbour of Sourabaya is an Ideal naval and submarine base.
Faced with the strengthening of the British defences in the Par East,
Text read from the printed page and cleaned; old type leaves the occasional error.