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Wairarapa Times-Age, 13 March 1941, Page 5

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MR MATSUOKA’S VISIT TO EUROPE IN VIEW OF ANTI-AXIS JAPANESE. JOURNEY NOT ONLY A GESTURE. (By Telegraph—Press Association —Copyright) LONDON. March 11. The Japanese Prime Minister. Prince Konoye, is to act as Foreign Minister during the absence of Mr Matsuoka, who is leaving Tokio tomorrow for a visit to Germany and Italy. He will travel to Europe through Siberia, and. according to the Berlin radio, will visit Moscow as well as meet Herr Hitler and Signor Mussolini. The Tokio correspondent of "The Times.” Mr Byas, says Mr Matsuoka’s journey to Berlin, Rome and Moscow is an evil omen for the democracies in the opinion of anti-Axis Japanese circles, who claim that suggestions which have been made that it is only a fact-finding expedition are not consistent with the fact that a liaison conference of the Cabinet and High Command has met four times. Such protracted deliberations by the highest executive authorities in Japan would not be necessary if the journey were only a gesture. Mr Matsuoka has disavowed an intention of mediating in Europe, but sources close to him know that he is profoundly impressed with the sense of disaster that may befall civilisation if the war continues till Europe’s leading nations are bled white, the correspondent says. Meanwhile, by visiting Europe on the eve of Germany’s expected spring offensive, Mr Matsuoka is making a gesture of sympathy with the Axis. Some observers believe that gesture is all that Japan will do till it is clear whether Hitler can expect a quick and decisive victory or whether the war will drag on. The Italian news agency says that after seeing Hitler Mr Matsuoka will go to Rome during the first week in April for talks with Mussolini. “The spring-time forecast by the Fuehrer and the Duce is here,” comments the agency, “and Mr Matsuoka’s visit may mark a decisive step toward more complete collaboration between Germany, Italy and Japan.” In Berlin and Rome the visit is being reported as a direct consequence of the passing in Washington of the Aid to Britain Bill. A semi-official statement issued in Berlin says: “It is symptomatic that Mr Masuoka’s departure coincides with the passage of the Aid Bill. None of the Tripartite Powers believes in the purely defensive character of the measure.” MINISTER DEPARTS STATION HEAVILY GUARDED. (Received This Day, 9.40 a.m.) TOKIO, March 12. Mr. Matsuoka departed by train for Germany. He was seen off by high government officials and members of the German Embassy. The station was heavilj' guarded. DECLARED AIMS EXPLANATION OF JAPANESE POLICY. CONSTRUCTION OF LASTING PEACE. (Received This Day, 9.30 a.m.) TOKIO, March 12. A Dome! Agency broadcast quoted Mr Matsuoka, before his departure for Berlin and Rome, as saying that he was going to explain the real significance of Japan’s foreign policy and to tighten up Axis cooperation, with the aim of making substantial contributions toward the construction of a lasting peace and a new world order, which forms the objective of the Three Power Pact. The newspaper “Kokumin” declared British and American influence in south eastern Asia had been struck a heavy blow and "now, step by step, we are going to face Britain and America, directly and frontally, in the south eastern sea, as was the case on the Chinese continent, which reason must have a new determination.”