New Jap premier extends ‘profound sympathy’ to U.S.
Suzuki says ‘Roosevelt’s leadership is responsible’ for ‘advantageous position’
By the United Press
Japanese Premier Kantaro Suzuki has extended his “profound sympathy” to the American people on the death of President Roosevelt, the Jap Domei Agency said today.
An English-language dispatch reported by the FCC quoted Suzuki as telling a Domei correspondent:
I must admit Roosevelt’s leadership has been very effective and has been responsible for the Americans’ advantageous position today. For that reason, I can easily understand the great loss his passing means to the American people and my profound sympathy goes to them.
Domei reported that Suzuki “candidly” said, however, that he did not expect America’s war efforts against Japan to change because of the President’s death.
The dispatch said the correspondent was “almost taken aback” by Suzuki’s reaction to news of the death, “but he quickly realized it was not strange coming from s man of large caliber as the new premier is.”