Mr. Matsuoka with the Dictators The European tour of Mr.
Matsuoka, the Foreign Minister of Japan, has taken him to Moscow, Berlin and Rome, and the " moral understanding " which he went to seek has doubtless been influenced by other events than Hitler's exhortations, Ribbentrop's arguments, and Mussolini's flattery. To the Axis leaders the visit seemed timed to synchronise perfectly with the opening of the Axis offensive and the submission of Yugo- slavia, but by misadventure Yugoslavia decided to imprison the men who had signed the pact, and Mussolini's Grand Fleet suffered a major defeat in the Mediterranean, while towns in East Africa were falling in quick succession. Hitler and Ribbentrop, according to the inspired German Press, appear to have impressed upon Mr. Matsuoka the necessity that Japan should occupy British strategic points in the Far East, and especially Singapore, before the American fleet arrives to take over ; the critical moment in Japan's history had arrived ; her fate was bound up with Germany's. In Rome he was welcomed with flags and Fascist ceremony, but there is no report of Mussolini's account of the Italian contribution to the war. In Tokyo the situation is viewed differently. Mr. Matsuoka has gone to Berlin, according to the Yomiuri, simply to have " heart to heart talks "—the Tripartite Pact carries " not a shadow of offensive provision against any country." Indeed it is probable that from the Japanese point of View the main importance of the visit is that it gives the Foreign Minister the opportunity to go to Moscow. He has yet to compare notes on his return journey with Mr. Stalin.
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