| Show Far East's Pocket Wa WaI Wai I Its It's Been Fomented by Japan Writes By Dr DAVID S. S WAITE Editor Singapore pore Free Pre SINGAPORE Reports that Japanese battle fleets have suddenly suddenly suddenly sud sud- denly been concentrated off Indo ChIna and Bangkok Bangkok Bangkok Bang Bang- kok Thailand Siam Indicate that the private quarrel between the two small nations has played Into the fhe hands of greater powers For neutral observers here long have suspected that Japan and her axis partners have been se secretly secretly secretly se- se provoking hostilities in this part pant of east Asia Thailand has always been a buffer state in this region of the world and her position is all aU the themore themore themore more important today because as one of the few remaining Independent independent inde Inde- pendent monarchies in the world she stands between British territory territory terri tern tory in Burma and Malaya with Singapore at its southern tip and French territory where territory where the Japanese are endeavoring to strengthen their position DISPUTE ENCOURAGED BY THE TilE AXIS Germany it is assumed like nothing more than to see events in east Asia develop in such a way as might tempt the Japanese to intervene actively in inthe inthe inthe the present war It was with that object in mind that Germany and Italy signed the tripartite pact with Japan Japan on her part has been accused of ot urging Thailand or Indo China or both to refuse opportunities for mediation She may have actively encouraged the Thai demands Japanese planes have been sent to the Thai air force to take the place of those ordered from America several several several sev sev- eral months ago which were stopped by order of the state department de de- There have also been Japanese good will missions to Thailand which may have concerned themselves themselves themselves them them- selves with the present affair as aswell aswell aswell well as propaganda attempts to encourage closer relations between between between be be- tween Thailand and Japan THAILAND IS NOT WILLING PAWN The quarrel between Thailand and Indo-China Indo arose from the i 1 Thai claim for the return 1 tam tain territory which the i rr ot have held for the past part 40 No one doubts that the i dispute are are 1 predominantly in character and mOst e admit that the Thais That W have va sound claim for turn Prin Principal objeCtion their manner which the That Thai Thais v- v adopted in their effort to taJ aJ hi redress It is safe to a sa U 1111 1 neither French no-CW no Indo Thailand was conscious of in way playing the others wished them game to ly Play hi H quite obviously both the present dispute still W believe that they are their own legitimate rights H i c. c interests t tT T The e Thais have been J of the Japanese and of Japan sS advice They want above 4 retain their independence ft It Thai statesmen have been beta i d in the past at keeping the hi ance of power in regard to 15 influence of foreign powe Bangkok The Thais will whit t n become the willing pawns pawn of or ft Japanese and one Interprets of their present demands demand inS ag ali Indo-China Indo is that they fear J anese expansion In the F colony and want to be In a im position to deal with any encroachment toward th tha Iii 5 and south WILLING TO SEEK PEACEFUL SOLUTION J As for the French they ma j some slight extent be by the Japanese but a mat mali danger is that in the French lonial capital which takes Its iti ii ders from Vichy there nut obe o- o be heard echoes of the vole voicA Hitler I The French Indo China to go rOl is admittedly In a iii cult position and no doubt A Jd 4 r miral Decoux the governor jr eral realizes the influence work in Vichy 1 I So authorities in both co calC coc tries have indicated their ness to seek a peaceful of their difference The difficulty dill S culty appears to have been bees fl ly lying ing a mediator who could brE brEj together the representative these neighboring states statu 1 I Ff f S 3 5 C 5 S S S Sf C r S. S 1 SS S 'S S A As s I j. j 1 5 5 5 S C S 5 S S tF 5 5 1 S L p w r-w 5 b ti S 1 Endangered by threats of new warfare in southeastern As Asare Asia are these stores of crude oil belonging to the Standard Oil oa C Cand and pictured in refinery at Indo Indo-Cl Indo na Note Anict ican flag in background J |
