INFLATED TALK

Wairarapa Times-Age, 3 April 1941, Page 5

INFLATED TALK

4, MR MATSUOKA LAUDS THE AXIS • “IDEALS THAT WILL LAST FOR EVER.” DUCE AND “GLORIOUS HISTORY OF ROMAN EMPIRE.” LONDON, April 1. (By Telegraph—Press Association—Copyright) The Japanese Foreign Minister. Mr Matsuoka, after an audience with the King in Rome, conferred with Count Ciano, after which lie had a ~75-ininute conference with Mussolini. After the conference Mussolini and Mr Matsuoka appeared on the balcony of the Piazza Venezia, where a crowd estimated at 150.000 gave them an ovation. Mr. Matsuoka made a speech at a banquet in which he said: “The world has rarely seen the equal of ItalianJapanese friendship. It is a revindication or our destiny and our common ideals will last for ever. We, with Germany, have undertaken the reconstruction of the world. “The Tripartite Pact is a symbol of an ascending movement of humanity. It is pleasing to see that the justice of our good cause is being gradually understood by an evergrowing number of nations, and also that the Tripartite Pact is gaining many new adherents. You. my friends, inspired by the Duce and other illustrious chiefs, are remaking the glorious history of the great Roman Empire.” Fascist students demonstrating on the occasion of Mr. Matsuoka’s visit tried to reach the Yugoslav Legation, but were returned back by troops. Another message states that the Japanese Foreign Minister drove to the Vatican on Wednesday morning and was received by the Pope. He is expected to have further conversations with Mussolini today.