Evening star., 1941-03-29
BeIqrude- Tokio

The repercuSSlonS OF the revolu-
tionary overturn in Belgrade have
nowhere been more Shattering than
upon German japanese relations.
The startling news must have burst
like a bombShell amid the elaborate
pageantry of Berlin, all decked out
for the visit of Mr.. MatSuoka, Japan'S
Foreign Minister.
Up to that crucial moment, every
thing had gone off splendidly. Mr..
Matsuoka had himself pulled clever
trick en- route, when he succeeded in
getting an audience with Joseph
Stain during his brief Stopover in
Moscow. Report has it that this was
accomplished by bringing personal
gifts from the Japanese Emperor to
the Russian dictator Stain, him.
self an Oriental, appreciated the sig
nifcance of this unprecedented
gesture from the God-Emperor. 1t
was indeed an honor.
Fresh from this diplomatic success,
Mr.. MatSuoka was received in Berlin
with all the pomp of which Propa-
ganda Master GoebbelS is capable.
A gigantic floral symbol of the rising
sun greeted him as he stepped from
his train, and series of splendid
ceremonies enSued. Yugoslavia'S
formal adhesion to the axis was pos
sibly the most tangible evidence of
German might that was offered to
him. All was going according to
plan.
Then came the news from Bel
grade! Perhaps Hitler controlled
himself, but it is easy to imagine his
inner feelings. Mr.. Matsuoka doubt
less maintained a bland smile, since
that is the japanese tradition. Yet
he must have had strange thoughts
about the permanence of the new
order" in Europe which the Fuehrer
had proclaimed as solidly established.
That was one of the things which
the japanese had come many thou
sands of miles to investigate. To
Japan, it was a matter of basic i'm
portance, since a German dominance
in Europe could alone justify the risk
of a supreme japanese bid for the
mastery Of East Asia.
Even though Britain's annihilation
were not yet certain, Japan might
still be tempted to gamble against
Britain and America in the Far East
if Hitler's continental grip was so
firm that he could use this as lever
to compel Moscow to free Japan's
hands for an all-out stroke against
Singapore and the Dutch Indies.
Until YugoSlavia kicked over the
traces, Hitler had a colorado argu-
ment that such was the case: Now,
1t is hard to see how Mr.. Matsuoka
can be convinced. Only the subjec-
ton Of defiant Yugoslavia and the
election of Britain from its Balkan
foothold can vindicate German
claims to continental mastery. But
this seemingly can be done solely
through major campaign, fought
certainly against Yugoslavia, Britain
and Greece, and possibly against Tur-
key as we'll. Meanwhile, Stalin's hands
will be free as never before in this
war, and he will thus be much less
amenable to German pressure on be-
half of the japanese axis partner.
Yet some sort of Russian assurance is
the condition prerequisite to full
fledged japanese action.
Those indomitable Serbs have thus
thrown a large-sized monkey wrench
into the axis machinery. Official
communiques from Berlin, of course,
will continue to assert perfect
harmony of views and co-ordinated
policies. But more tangible proofs
are needed to convince a Skeptical
outer world Until they are forth
coming, the wise presumption will be
that the big party in Berlinis pretty
well spoiled.