Mr. Matsuoka's Tour
The European tour of Mr. Matsuoka, the Foreign Minister of Japan, naturally the theme of much discussion in Tokyo, has been advertised with flamboyant rhetoric in Berlin as a sign of the solidarity of the signatories of the Tripartite Pact. Mr. Matsuoka himself speaks modestly of the purpose of his visit— he has looked forward to the pleasure of meeting Hitler, Ribben- trop and Goering, and he desires to form personal impressions of Germany and Italy. Conveniently for him the route to Berlin goes by way of Moscow, and has given Mr. Matsuoka the opportunity of meeting M. Molotoff and M. Stalin himself, who had not personally received a representative of Japan for a dozen years. He has visited Moscow on his journey co Germany, and he will visit it again on his return, and it may be that the second interview will be the more important of the two. So far as Berlin is concerned, it is pretty clear what Japan has to offer to Germany ; if she stirs up trouble in the Far East for Britain and America that is all gain for Hitler ; but it is not so clear what Germany has to offer to Japan. Indeed there is nothing which Germany can contribute directly unless she wins the war, and the Japanese seem to understand that that will mkt a long time to accomplish. But she might contribute something indirectly by promoting a non-aggression pact with Russia, and relieving Japan of some of her apprehensions on the Soviet Far Eastern borders. Moscow is of more immediate importance to Mr. Matsuoka than Berlin, and a political understanding with Russia would be more reassuring to her than any grandime promises from Germany. That is why it is fortunate for him that the road to Berlin is via Moscow. Russia, mcanwhile, continues to send help to China.
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