100 THREE YEARS OF CALM BEFORE THE STORM

and that Fay van Rechteren, the matron of honour, added much
to the picture. We had invited only sixty-five people to the ceremony,
as friends of Elsie, but some four hundred came to the reception.
Alice and I had to look after the Chichibus, who are not a bit stiff,
but I can't say that I ever feel very comfortable entertaining royalty,
especially in Japan, where they are surrounded by the many drastic
rides and customs of the Imperial Household. However, I had
taken the precaution of carefully writing out our proposed pro-
cedure, and submitting it in advance to Count Maeda, who approved.
I did invite the diplomatic Ministers to the terrace, where the Chichi-
bus had tea, and Marler afterwards observed that the Ministers
would never forget their gratitude.

Hitherto Japanese etiquette had permitted only Ambassadors to
talk with members of the Imperial family during entertainments in
foreign houses. However, I cut the Gordian knot by insisting that
the Canadian and other Ministers should be present.

Elsie and Cecil drove to Yokohama and thence took the train
to Gotemba, on the slopes of Fujiyama, where Count Kabayama
had placed his villa at their disposal. Father and mother resume
their daily rounds and try to smile in spite of the empty nursery
upstairs, for the nursery to them has been the most important part
of life.

A DIPLOMAT DISCUSSES PAN-ASIA

November 13, 1933

One of my diplomatic colleagues told me that ever since last
March when a meeting had been held, attended by General Araki,
Yoshizawa, Hirota, et al., the idea of revising the Pan-Asiatic move-
ment, or Great Asiatic Association, was being pushed in Japan.
He believes that Hirota, in spite of his policy of improving relations
with foreign countries, is a stanch supporter of the movement
and that he is in sympathy with Japan's expansionist ambitions.
But my colleague had no precise evidence to support this theory.
The idea, as he understands it, is to form an Asiatic League of Nations
composed of Japan as the leader, and Manchukuo, China, and
Siam ; in other words, a bloc of the yellow races against the white.
He said that he had just been looking at a new textbook for the
primary Japanese schools in which is included a large map of the
Far East, comprising Japan, Manchukuo, China, French Cochin
China, Siam, the Straits Settlements, the Philippines, and the Dutch
East Indies, and that on this map there are three flags—the
Japanese, Chinese, and Manchukuoan. The American, French,
British, and Dutch flags are absent. He thought this significant,
adding that he had observed a significant thing at the funeral of
Princess Asaka yesterday, namely, that in the row of funeral wreaths
the place of honour was given to the wreath from President Pu-yi.
The second place of honour was given to that of General Tinge, the