A MESSAGE OF GOODWILL

Radio Record, Volume I, Issue 23, 23 December 1927, Page 4

A MESSAGE OF GOODWILL

FROM JAPANESE CONSUL: GENERAL. Scholar, statesman and orator, Mr. Tokugawa, Consul-General for ‘Australasia for Japan, has a record. of which anyone might well be proud. For years he has been prominently associated with the diplomatic service, and he has played no mean part in the counsels of the League of Nations. New, Zealanders can never forget the invaluable service rendered by our gallant Japanese allies in the early days of the war in escorting our soljdiers in safety, and the message which Mr. Tokugawa delivered from 2YA_ last week was particularly appropriate. "1 am here," said Mr. TokuSawa, *‘to give you a message from your friends in Japan. The Japanese nation recalls the days when the forces of New Zealand and Japan were arrayed together for the cause of justice and righteousness. "New Zealand’s immediate assistance to the relief of sufferers in the great catastrophe which befel my country is not forgotten. The relations between New Zealand and Japan are primarily based on the traditional good fellowship existing between Great Britain and Japan, "Great Britain and Japan, both similarly situated island nations, have always been in a position to understand each other well, from the inception of Japan’s intercourse with Europe. We have learned so much from Great Britain, especially in the sphere of commerce and navigation. Great Britain, on her part, has proved herself at all times to be Japan’s staunch friend, and so we believe she will always be. The friendship between the two nations is no mere question of give and take: no mere matter of bargaining. There is something far deeper and more fundamental than that. "New Zealand and: Japan, not unlike in many respects, in climatic and geographical conditions and otherwise, are bordering the same great ocean which is now becoming one of the most important centres of world activities, ~-that is to say, the region in which we are responsible in common for the maintenance of permanent peace and order. "We shall see that our two coun: tries, always relying on the AngloJapanese good relations to which I have referred, should co-operate, and indeed be determined to co: operate, to make the Pacific a region of new hope for the much tried world, "Tt will be seen that the task before us is one of extreme importance, and that task we can cheerfully undertake on the strength of the happy relations always maintained between the British Empire and ourselves. Let wus cooperate. Let us go together.