The plenipotentiaries of France and Thailand signed to-day the terms of mediation presented by Japan concerning the final settlement of the Thai-French Indo-China border dispute. It is exactly
33 days since the first formal meeting took place on February 7, following the conclusion of the armistice agreement between France and Thailand which was done in accordance with Japan's offer of mediation to the two Governments on January 20. Special mention must be made of the fact that such a difficult task has been accomplished in such a short period of time.
A tribute is due to France for assuming an attitude marked with conciliation and concession, thereby facilitating an amicable conclusion of the conference, worthy of a great Power, while Thailand, maintaining a cooperative and friendly attitude throughout the conference, thereby demonstrating her goodwill in contributing to the construction of the new order in East Asia, demands our profound esteem. Last year when the border dispute broke out between Thailand and French Indo-China, Japan took the earliest opportunity to communicate to the two countries her willingness to mediate in an effort to restore tranquillity in that region, but, the effort was not successful, because time was apparently not ripe. The situation was complicated with third powers' machination so that an armed clash took place between the two countries at last. As time passed, the conflagration spread in all directions, bringing about a situation which could not be left alone. It goes without saying that such a development of the situation was a matter of profound regret for Japan who wants to secure tranquillity and order in Greater East Asia at any sacrifice. It is needless to say that Japan absolutely cannot overlook machinations of third powers amidst disturbance, calculated to hamper her mission to establish a sphere of common prosperity throughout Greater East Asia. This is the reason Japan formally offered her mediation to both parties on January 20, this year. Fortunately, Japan's offer was promptly accepted by the Governments of the two countries.
As the first step for the solution of the conflict, an armistice conference was held aboard a Japanese warship off Saigon on January 29. Three days after, namely, March 1, the Armistice Conference was brought to an amicable conclusion, providing for cessation of hostilities for two weeks without delay and immediate convocation of a peace conference in Tokyo.
In accordance with the decisions of the Armistice Conference, the Japanese Government immediately called a Mediation Conference in Tokyo, to which France and Thailand each sent her Plenipotentiaries and their staff of members. Those who participated in the conference exceeded 40 in number, including the Japanese mediators.
The curtain was raised for the Mediation Conference with its first formal meeting on February 7. Several informal meetings
have since been held, with scores of individual conversations taking place between them. The Conference proceedings were not necessarily plain sailing, with the result that armistice had to be extended twice. It is no wonder, when it is remembered that an important issue of territorial cession was involved. Within three weeks of the start of the parley, however, Japan was able to grasp the main points of the contentions of the two countries. Working out a mediation plan which she thought to be just and fair, Japan presented it to the two countries on February 24. The plenipotentiaries of the three countries concerned kept up their negotiations on the basis of this plan. Their conversations were often continued late into night and sometimes until the small hours of the morning. In more than ten days the two countries have accepted the Mediation Plan with some modifications.
The acceptance of the Mediation Plan has not only settled the conflict which might have taken a serious turn if any slip had been made, but also restored the relations of peace and friendship between the two countries and further tightened the strong ligament of mutual existence and prosperity binding Japan and the two countries. It forms a stable corner-stone of the peace fabric in Greater East Asia in particular and in the world in general. It is a matter for profound congratulation for the sake not only of the two countries concerned but also of humanity at large. Especially gratifying is it to Japan who is bending her energies to the establishment of a sphere of common prosperity throughout Greater East Asia because tranquillity and order, secured in South Eastern Asia, forms the most essential factor in the establishment of the projected sphere of co-prosperity and because the materialization of Japan's mediation marks a step forward in the attainment of her task.
Attempts have been made by some of the third powers to obstruct the Mediation Conference by creating phantoms from their base motive and by accusing Japan of seeking her own advantage under the pretext of mediation, but those intrigues have all been exploded and the difficult task of question of mediation has been amicably settled, demonstrating Japan's fair and just attitude.
Negotiation for conclusion of agreement in accordance with the above-mentioned mediation terms is to be finished in the shortest space of time by the Plenipotentiaries of the two countries with friendly attitude and in a spirit of mutual conciliation and concession. No effort shall be wanting on the part of Japan to extend a full measure of assistance and cooperation and to discharge her own responsibility in facilitating the negotiation and also in working out a formula for the prevention of recurrence of the dispute in the future.