PRINCE OF WALES

Press, Volume LVIII, Issue 17430, 15 April 1922, Page 11

PRINCE OF WALES

——<► GREAT WELCOME IN JAPAN. A MEMOEABLE BAY. I|Bt CaV.p—Press Aisociiticr.—Copyright) (Australian aad N.2i. Cable Association.) TOKYO. April 12. The welcome to the Prince of Wales was tinpreccdented in the history of Japan. H.M.S. Renown arrived at \okohama to the thunder of the guns of twenty-ono warships. The Prince received various addresses; of welcome, and smilingly greeted 40,000 schoolchildren who lined t-!ie route from the pier to the station. There was a continuous bombardment of daylight fireworks from Yokohama to Tokyo, where the Prince Regent greeted tho Prince of Wales aft tho railway station. Eight Imperial princes and tho heir of the Into Emperor of Korea, stood- in tho reception line, and, grouped behind them, wore many famous figures in brilliant court uniforms. A vast crowd filled every available space and banzaied tumultuously, waving countless thousands of Union Jacks. The Empress awaited and received tho Prince of Wales on the steps of the palace. The Prince Regent and tho Prince of Wales, after stiff salutes, warmly clasped Viands and earnestly conversed for a few minutes. Tho garrison lined the streets, while several thousand police were on duty. There was no fear of danger to the Prince, yet no risks were taken. The police compelled the Indian residente of the city to give their word that they would remain in their own houses during the Prince's stay, or otherwise they would have been imprisoned. The newspapers are issuing special editions warmly welcoming the Prince. The special correspondent of the Press Association with the Prince of Wales says that from Yokohama to Tokyo the Prince travelled through nineteen miles of cheering Japanese, who received hint with a fervour which made the day one of the most memorable of his tour. The Prince of Wales was profoundly touched by- the sincerity of th© homage from rich and poor alike, who were massed at statioris, in the villages, and on stretches of open country beneath acres of flags. Figuratively he was carried from sea to capital on one torrential cheer. Every child and niany adults waved the Union Jack in one hand and tote Japanese*flag in the other. The drizzle, which is threatening to become worse, is somewhat bedraggling the miles of decorations in Yokohama and Tokyo. The Japanese authorities are providing special accommodation everywhere for British subjects.

anglojapanese friendship SPEECH BY PRINCE REGENT. (Ranter's TeUeraißJi.' TOKYO 1 , April 12. The Prince Regent, in toasting the Prince of Wales at a. welcome banquet :at the Imperial Palace, said that, in view of the signature to the, Quadruple Treaty at the epoch-making Washington Conference, it would not be amiss for him to dwell on the high, and honourable role played by tfie Anglo-Jap-anese Alliance in the intercuts of peace in the Far East, and upon the admirable spirit of loyalty manifested by both countries in living up to all their obligations. He had every confidence that when the new instrument with its wider scope superseded the Alliance, the same spirit of loyalty would be manifested by the four Powers concerned. He might add with equal confidence that the traditional friendship of ihe twoi island Empires, which had been confirmed by the test,of time, and consecrated by the ardours of the Great War, would ever remain enshrined i n the heart® of the Japanese people.

Mr Lloyd George cabled' that the British Empire was with the Prince of Wales in heart wherever he went, and in returning the visit of'the Crown Prince of Japan he took the friendship and goodwill oP all Britishers towards their gallant old allies, the people of Japan. The Prince of Wales, responding to the Prince Regent's message of wel-. come, said the signing of the AngloJapanese Alliance twenty years ago was a fruitful and momentous event to East and West. He recalled with gratitude the loyalty in good and evil days with which Japan observed her ti&s and obligations. He felt assured that the changes "recently made would cause the loss of nothing of tho old friendship. No doubt the quadruple agreement would result in deepening not only the traditional sympathy of their countries, but also the good relations between the Powers which were parties'to the Alliance. He was confident that, in the cause of civilisation and humanity, Japan would always bo found to be in close cooperation with Britain, and it would be a source of deep*gratification if his visit contributed to foster the existing friendships.