Thursday, 17 July

Ambassador Shao Lizi cabled yesterday and reported his talks with the British Ambassador Archibald Clark Kerr. Kerr said that with regard to Japan, both Britain and the Soviet Union were temporarily adopting a relaxed policy. But if Japan really responded to the call of Germany, no matter of southern advance or invasion of the Soviet Union, the scope of mutual help could be enlarged. In due course if our country and the United States were willing and worked substantially harder accordingly, it seemed also possible that the four countries could help each other. At 7.30 a.m. I went to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs. Minister Guo Taiji discussed with me how to cope with Japan in case its Cabinet collapsed and it became eager for a northern or southern advance. In the afternoon, I studied the Kangding-India Highway issue. Weng Zhangqing (翁張清) invited me to supper. Afterwards I went to Wang Chonghui’s house and talked until midnight then I returned home.