Evening star., 1941-09-27
japanese Observe
Axis Anniversary
In Subdued Style
Newspaper Commentator
Urges Germany to Patch
Up Peace With Russiu
BY the Associated Press.

By the Associated Press.
TOXIC, Sept. 27.-Japan observed
in subdued fashion today the first
anniversary of her adherence to the
tripartite pact with Germany and
Italy, and a prominent newspaper
commentator urged that Germany
patch up peace with Russia and
turn against Britain if Axis aims
for new world order" ever are to
be realized.
The commentator. Teiichi Muto,
writing in the newspaper Hochi,
said:
What We desire of Germany Is
that she should not lose fighting
strength against Britain on account
Of the war against Russia, which is
Of secondary Importance at present.
1T is highly desirable that Ger
many should bring the war with the
Soviet Union to a close as soon as
possible and thus revert to warfare
against Britain. which was the orig
inal object of the present European
war"
He said Japan had been taken
completely by surprise in August,
1899. when Germany made a non-
aggression pact with Russia, but had
decided this was ''in line with the
needs of the times" only to be sur
prised again when Germany went
to war with Russia last June %.
Would Like Separate Peace.
War against Russia might be in
terpreted as a requisite to war
against Britain. he said, but Japan
nevertheless would be considerably
encouraged if Germany and Russia
made separate peace when a
certain state of the campaign was
reached.
Five thousand persons jammed
KyoritSu Auditorium, away from
the central city, for the only official
ceremony commemorating the an
niversary.
They cheered the reading of a
message in which former Foreign
Minister Yosuke Matsuoka, who
represented Japan in forming the
Axis alliance, declared adherence
to the pact was the only road Japan
could take in light of the interna-
tionaI situation of a year ago
4 firmly believe" Matsuoka's S
message said, Japan after all should
proceed on her way in accordance
with the letter and spirit of
the tripartite pact"
Urges Surmounting of Difficulties.
Foreign Minister Tiejiro Toyoda,
speaking at the governments only
ceremonial recognition of the first
anniversary of the Japanese signing
of the Axis pact, urged the three
allied nations to "Surmount what
ever difficulties may be in the path. -
He was host to the German and
Italian Ambassadors at a luncheon
in the Hotel Imperial Each sigma
tory was urged to renew faith in the
tripartite ideal. Toyoda described
this as an accomplishment of the
noble mission of mankind for
which. he said. mutual cooperation,
trust and patience were essential.
Both Premier Prince Fumimaro
Konoye and the foreign minister
sent anniversary messages of a SINH
lar nature to Germany and Italy
Domei said. Konoye addressed
Fuehrer Hitler and Premier Musso-
lini, while Toyoda addressed Foreign
Ministers Rbbentrop and Count
Ciano.
Decorations Are Limited.
Holiday decorations of the CAP
1tal were limited to little German
Italian and japanese flags on street
cars and in few downtown theaters
and newspaper Offices.
Toyoda said Germany, italy and
Japan were making great strides
toward their new orders" although
the constructive efforts of Germany
and Italy in Europe and those of
Japan In East Asia are still con-
fronted by many difficulties and
therefore increased efforts will be
required"
The German Ambassador, Mai
Gen. Eugen OFT, issued a statement
pralslng the Joint Axis efforts, re-
capitulating successes of the Ger
man armies and saying 1t was neces-
sary to crush Bolshevism for q
union Of Europe.