FRENCH EMPIRE: Prize to Nippon

Since Japan took advantage of the French collapse to impose "inspectors" on French Indo-China and prevent munitions shipments to China (TIME, July 1), Tokyo has assumed that France's prize Asiatic colony was safe in Nippon's bag. But before Japan could actually move in and take it, Oriental propriety demanded a righteous motive. It came last week when ousted Governor General Georges Catroux led important units of the Indo-Chinese colonial forces to the standard of General Charles de Gaulle, self-styled Commander of Free Frenchmen.

"A matter of grave moment to Japan," growled the...

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