Repeated to London 37, and to Tokyo 15.

In accordance with diplomatic practice, I called on the Japanese
Ambassador [1] today. He made the following observations:

(1) That his mission was to endeavour to keep peace.

(2) That the Japanese Navy was behind him.

(3) That Japan had enough trouble on her hands.

(4) That nothing of importance would result from Matsuoka's [2]
visit.

I then called on Sumner Welles. [3] He showed me a confidential
telegram from a reliable American source overseas to the effect
that Prince Paul of Yugoslavia had visited Hitler secretly at
Berchtesgaden on 11th March. Latter in the course of argument for
Yugoslavia joining with the Axis said Germany would attack Russia
in June or July. On my enquiring the degree of reliability of this
remarkable information, Sumner Welles said all he could say was
that it fitted in with information from other quarters. He said
that he believed it possible that Hitler's motive in getting
Matsuoka to Berlin was to discuss the possibility of a conjoint
German-Japanese pincers movement on Russia.

Sumner Welles was very pleased with the result of the visit of the
American warships to Australia. On my enquiring if a similar visit
was possible to Darwin he said that they had this and other naval
activities in South-West Pacific under consideration, but that
they did not propose to do anything more until after the result of
Matsuoka's visit was clearer.

Sumner Welles expressed high regard for the Dutch Minister for
Foreign Affairs [4] who will be visiting Australia later.

CASEY