ABSTRACT
The declaration issued on March 24 by the French Provisional Government in regard to the future status of Indo-China departs radically from traditional French colonial policy. Japan’s first step was to increase her forces in Indo-China from 20,000 to some 40,000, after which the Japanese commander-in-chief formally requested Admiral Decoux to carry out France’s “obligations” under the treaty of July 21, 1941 for the joint defense of the colony. The declaration by the French Cabinet on March 24 that Indo-China after the war would become a semi-autonomous dominion in the new French Union or commonwealth of nations came at a strategic time. The French Union, according to the declaration, is to consist of France and all parts of the “imperial community”. Indo-China is to have a “federal government, presided over by a governor-general and composed of ministers responsible to him. The governor-general apparently retains actual control, presumably being responsible, as formerly, to the French Government.
