The Archive · 1940

Will Safeguard Rights

Hanoi, Sept. 4.

Although the French authorities are willing to recognize the Japanese necessity for the passage of troops through Indo-China they nevertheless will safeguard their rights, an oficial communique said last night The Japanese ultimatum for quick transit of Japanese troops through Indo-China was held by the communique as overstepping the terms of the Vichy agreement which agreed in principle to accord the Japanese certain military privileges after negotiations in Hanoi.

The communique said that "France kas undertaken to reaffirm its obligation to defend the Indo-China peoples against all menace and is pr pared if necessary to keep the promise.

Negotiations between the Japanese Mission and the local French authorities were resumed today upon the request of the Japanese after the talks had been suspended for 24 hours, Major-General 1: u Nishihara, head of the Japanese Mission, and Vice-Admiral Jean Decoux, Governor-General of Indo-China were in conference this afternoon and it was reported that their talks were progressing.

A peaceful settlement was expected. French military leaves here have been cancelled. A Japanese destroyer and a Japanese steamer were in Haiphong harbour, apparently waiting to take aboard Japanese frontier inspectors should an emer-gen se—United Press,

Text read from the printed page and cleaned; old type leaves the occasional error.

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