TOKYO - U.S. Sen. Claude Pepper (D., Fla.), warned Thursday the United States must turn its attention to Asia to protect Asian peoples against a tyranny, "the likes of which has not existed in centuries past."

Pepper, who is paying his own way on a "learning expedition" for his senate foreign relations subcommittee, said that since the European expansion of communism is stopped, Asia is the part of the world "not only where the conflict rages, but where the gravest danger exists."

HE SAID peoples of the Middle East and Far East must be acquainted with the need for a United front lest they take the "wrong road to serfdom and slavery, and a tyranny more terrible than any memory can recall."

Aligned against communism *on the right road," these peoples, he said, have a substantial hope of help, reward and recognition "from those who desire to cooperate with them."

PEPPER STRESSED that Asian masses must "be made to realize the "obvious benefits" of a union against communism. He said anyone who seriously considered the merits of a free, democratic, system as against communism could not fail to choose liberty.

The-Senator spent "Wednesday morning in conference with Brig. Gen. Courtney Whitney/General MacArthur's Government Section chief; Brig. Gen. Crawford Sams, who heads the Public Health and Welfare Section, SCAP, and Marine Lt CoL D, R. Nugent, Civil Information and Education Section head.

He has been escorted by Ambassador William J. Sebald, head of General MacArthur's Diplomatic Section.

PEPPER then visited the 361st Station Hospital. He told Stars & Stripes he would visit every soldier in every hospital he could see.

The Florida Democrat met Japanese Prime Minister Shigeru Yoshida Thursday afternoon.

He was scheduled to lunch with General and Mrs. MacArthur Friday noon, after conferences with Lt. CoL H. G. Schenck, Natural Resources Section, SCAP; and Dr. Sherwood M. Fine, Economic and Scientific Section.

THE SENATOR praised occupation policies of the Supreme Commander and appeared optimistic for Japan's future. He said, "If Asia can know what Japan means to it, and the fear of Japanese aggression is removed, Japanese participation in the future development of Asia would be acceptable" to most Asiatic nations.

Pepper specifically denied reports he would retire from public life in January when his term as a senator ends after 14 years. He said I do not expect to abandon public life. I am more interested in good government than I am in making money."