EMPEROR OF JAPAN.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXVII, Issue 20603, 30 June 1930, Page 9

EMPEROR OF JAPAN.

FRIENDSHIP FOR BRITAIN. HONOURS FROM KING GEORGE. (Received June 29, 5.1S p.ra.) British Wireless. RUGBY, Juno 28. The text is published to-day of messages exchanged between King Georgo and the Emperor of Japan on the occasion of the visit to London of Prince Takamatsu, second brother of tho Emperor, and Princess Takamatsu. The King, in a message to tho Emperor despatched yesterday, said: " The Queen and I this afternoon welcomed as our guests with feelings of delight Prince and Princess Takamatsu and we are glad to see them both in the best of health. It gives mo tho greatest pleasuro to inform Your Imperial Majesty that I have to-day promoted you to the rank of field marshal in my Army. I havo entrusted tho baton to your brother to hand to you on his return home, when I hope ho v.ill carry with him a renewed assurance of the lasting friendship between our two countries." • Tho Emperor in his reply said: "I hasten to express my cordial thanks for tho warm reception extended to the Prince and Princess by Your Majosties, by members of your Royal Family and by your officers and people in every part of your Empire which thoy havo visited. Now that they havo realised their ardent desire of forming this personal friendship' with Your Majesties and with the members of your family I trust they will enjoy a pleasant sojourn in your country, as I did when I visited it some years ago, conducing, I am confident, to the futheraifce of tho bonds of amity and friendship which so happily unito our two realms. " It affords mo the greatest pleasuro to learn that Your Majesty has accorded me the exalted rank of field marshal in your Army and entrusted tho baton to the Prince to convey to me, also that Your Majesty has graciously been pleased to confer the Grand Cross of the Royal Victorian Order on my brother. For these manifestations of Your Majesty's sincero friendship and goodwill I would ask you to accept my heartfelt thanks, together with my best wishes for tho welfare of your Royal House and tho prosperity of the British Empire." I " f Prince Takamatsu and his young wife, with their suite, sailed from Yokohama for London in the Kashima Maru on April 21. Their departure was attended with much ceromony and thousands of people cheered as tho ship left the dock. The harbour and the city wero gaily decorated Prince Takamatsu is officially returning the Duke of Gloucester s Garter mission to Japan. Later ho will officially visit Spain to confer the Grand Order of tho Chrysanthemum on King Alfonso, after which he will make a tour of® tho Continent,. returning to Japan via the United States and Canada in ApriJ or May, 1931. Princo Takamatsu is the third Prince of the immediate Imperial family to leave the shores of Japan, the present Emperor and Princo Chichibu having set the precedent.