JAP. AMBASSADOR.

Auckland Star, Volume LXXII, Issue 76, 31 March 1941, Page 7

JAP. AMBASSADOR.

Opportunities For Helping Britain's Enemies. LABOUR M.P.'S ATTITUDE. (Reed. 1.30 p.m.) LONDON*. Mar. 30. Lieutenant-Commander R. T. Fletcher (Lab.. Nuneaton. Warwick), in a speech at Weston super-Mare, Somerset, said Mr. Matsuoka's Berlin visit was likely to lead many people to consider the position of the Japanese Ambassador in London. '"An Ambassador and hi* staff have many opportunities of reporting matters of interest to our enemies. 1 see no reason for wearing kid gloves or even three-ouneers in this matter and tolerating hostile observers in our midst when fighting an enemy using bare fists and knuckle-dusters."

Mr. Matsuoka left Berlin to-day for Rome. The Pope will give audiences to Mr. Matsuoka on Wednesday, says a message from Berlin.

According to Berlin reports of Mr. Matsuoka's reception, Ribbentrop said his pleasure in welcoming Mr. Matsuoka was all the deeper because "he speaks a language we understand.*' This has excited amused comment in London, as the conversations between Ribbentrop and Mr. Matsuoka were in English, neither speaking 1 the other's language.

KIANGSI FIGHTING. Chinese Claim. Two Japanese Divisions Lost. MALAYA REINFORCEMENTS. (Reed. 1 p.m.) LONDON", Mar. 30. Two Japanese divisions were virtually annihilated during a Chinese counteroffensive in northern Kiangsi province, between March 22 and March 28, states a Chungking communique. Japanese headquarters at Kuanchiao. in the Shangkuo sector, were captured. According to an agency message received in London. Air Chief Marshal !Sir Robert Brooke-Popham, Commander-in-Chief in the Far East, announced in an official communique the arrival of British and Indian troops and R.A.F. units in Singapore, says British Official Wireless. The R.A.F* units are the first to reach Malaya from the United Kingdom since the outbreak of war. He declared that the greatly increased strength in the Far East was a threat to no one. On the contrary, it was a great stabilising force and an influence for peace. Sir Robert stated '.hat the fact that troops could l>e spared from other theatres for service in Malaya, and despite the Nazi campaign against shipping, was a cause for very considerable satisfaction.