Matsuoka Home With a Head

Home at last from his travels to the capitals of Totalitaria, busy little Foreign Minister Yosuke Matsuoka last week reported to an anxious Japan the things he had done and the friends he had made. On the whole the report went down well. First there was a Cabinet meeting, from which Premier Prince Fumimaro Konoye was absent, as usual, with a cold. The Foreign Minister was subjected to what the Japanese press called "sincere and cautious questions" by Home Minister Baron Kiichiro Hiranuma, Guardian of Imperial Rule, and by Justice Minister Lieut. General Heisuke Yanagawa. They asked about the implications of the Russo-Japanese Neutrality Pact and about "thought problems at home."

Among the thought problems was that of Communism. General Yanagawa observed that Japanese Communists were raising their heads again and felt that this problem was made no easier by the publication of photographs of Mr. Matsuoka and Mr. Stalin arm in arm. What criticism, if any, the Ministers made of the pact was not disclosed, but the newspaper Hochi had some very pertinent things to say.

Hochi published a list of five demands on Russia to reinforce the pact, most important of which was the demand that Russia stop helping China's Chiang Kaishek. Russia, said Hochi, was merely continuing to adhere to "the utilitarian policy of waiting for Japan, Germany and Italy to become exhausted in order to fish in troubled waters."

But the Cabinet accepted the pact; the Privy Council, sitting in the presence of the Son of Heaven, approved it unanimously. Next evening Emperor Hirohito sanctioned it. The press hinted broadly that Mr. Matsuoka should next go to the U.S., and perhaps to Great Britain, to try to win Greater East Asia by negotiation.

Even the Foreign Minister seemed to be indulging in wishful thinking on that point. Scarcely had he set foot on Japanese soil than he delivered himself of a speech in which he said: "It is extremely reckless to maintain relations with persons that one has not even met. Only a fool or a genius can do that."

This appeasement feeler got a prompt negative response from both Britain and the U.S. In Washington Secretary of State Cordell Hull said plainly that U.S.-Japanese relations would get no better so long as Japan pursued her present foreign policy. From Singapore, U.S.-made, Australian-manned bombing planes roared 100 miles to sea to meet a second batch of men and machines to reinforce that vital British fortress. Said Major General Lionel Vivian Bond, Commander of the British land forces in Malaya: "The United States Fleet is the most powerful factor deterring the activity of an enemy of Britain in the Pacific area." Between them the U.S. and Britain had told Japan that:

1) Japan will get nothing except by force;

2) force will be met by force.

As a person whose judgment is greatly influenced by personal impressions, Foreign Minister Matsuoka may well translate his personal impressions of Adolf Hitler and Joseph Stalin into Japanese foreign policy. Last week Japan learned just what those impressions had been. Colonel Yat-suji Nagai, a member of the Foreign Minister's suite, told of Matsuoka's meeting with Hitler.

"Herr Hitler," said the Colonel, "gradually became so heated in his conversation, and finally was so carried away, that it seemed he didn't know to whom he was talking. He pounded the table with his fist and exclaimed that England must be defeated. As Mr. Matsuoka is also a person who becomes heated in conversation, an interesting scene was revealed."

With Russia's Stalin the Foreign Minister had a different kind of time. After the Neutrality Pact was signed, Stalin brought out a reddish liquor and proposed a toast to the Emperor of Japan. Yosuke Matsuoka, who likes sake, took a look at the glass, drew himself to his full five feet two, and grasped the goblet like a man. "I will drink anything if it is for His Majesty the Emperor," said he, and emptied the goblet in a gulp. After that much liquor flowed, and soon both statesmen grew mellow. If their conversation seemed funny to U.S. citizens, it was not so to Japanese, who consider drinking exploits a credit to a statesman.

"Mr. Stalin," said Mr. Matsuoka, "the treaty has been made. I do not lie. If I lie, my head will be yours. If you lie, be sure I will come for your head."

"Mr. Matsuoka," said Mr. Stalin, "my head is important to my country. So is yours to your country. Let us use care to keep our heads on our shoulders."

"Let us drink to that," said Mr. Matsuoka.

"You are an Asiatic," said Mr. Stalin. "So am I."

"We are all Asiatics," said Mr. Matsuoka. "Let us drink to the health of the Asiatics."

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