Washington, Dec. 31. is fully expected here that Tokyo will read, mark and learn those passages in President Roosevelt's fireside chat which referred to the Oriental partner of the Axis.
It is felt here' that he could have stated hardly more clearly that Mr. Matsuoka's statements that the United States must expect war if she followed. a foreign pol! icy to which Japan objected, had been noted and discounted, leaving American policy unaffected.
"In the type version of the speech available to the press before delivery was one paragraph of one line only, and the President paused both before and after it. fleet." Comment seems to be Tt was:
"In the Pacific is our President Roosevelt also indicated clearly' that he sees China's fight against Japan as part of the Aight of the Democracies against what he des cribed "asthe evil forces seeking world conquest and-domination.
Japan comes in for sarcastic eastigation at the hands of the "New York mimes," which says it Is not surprising to find Japan slavishly imitating her partners by using Thailand as Hitler used "Sudetenland, and con: cludes: "But what an awakening 1 due for Thailand, if Indo-China fol lows Korea, Manchuria and north= eastern China into the Japanese The London press played up the fireside chat alongside the story of the Great London fire, "Our purpose ts tempered into steel by the fires of London." one London newspaper. said.
Reports from Athens said Greeks throughout the country. were cheered by President Roosevelt's challenge to the Axis and the prediction that the Tolalliarian powers would meet ultimate. defeat.
Newspapers at. Belgrade, faction almost without precedent, felt free enough to print Mr. Rooseve Untavourable Axis remarks.
Text read from the printed page and cleaned; old type leaves the occasional error.