Hanoi, Nov. 18.
The French Minister to Thailand, who arrived here last week from disgorging it fast.
Reports from Tokyo that the recent Imperial conference decided to give Chungking "a final chance" to reconsider its attitude and to make peace with Japan is also interpreted here as a sign of Japanese weakness. It is recalled that there is a vast difference between the officially annevnced attitude of 1938, which declared that Japan would never talk with the Chiang Kai-shek regime, which was to be annihilated, and these persistent Tokyo reports that the Chungking regime will be offered liberal peace terms.
It is argued, therefore, that Tokyo must feel much less sure of itself now than two. years ago.
It is expected here that the Japanese threat to recognize the puppet regime at-Nanking, if Chungking refuses to talk peace, will leave Chungking somewhat cold. indeed, there is accumulating evidence that Chung-King is getting set for a long resistance. She has at present an aviation mission here under General Mao Pang-tsu and, while no official statement concerning him is available, it is understood on good authority that he hopes with the assistance of Dr. Hu Shih, Chinese Ambassador to the "United States, and Mr. T. V. Soong, well-known Chinese financier, to negotiate the purchase of fighter planes with which to beat off Japanese attacks. on Chungking, Yunnanfu end the vital Burma Road.—Reuter.
Text read from the printed page and cleaned; old type leaves the occasional error.