Wednesday, 23 July

I had a pleasant dream last night in that I saw my beloved cousin Lai Hung. Alas! How thin she looked and how sad! She was my first childhood love. But she never knew it. Her marriage was a partial failure and she died a very painful death.

At 7.45 to the office. Very busy over documents as usual. I received a letter from President Sun Fo regarding a passport for his daughter to study in America and instructed the passport-department to prepare it immediately. Ye Zhao called. He was released again yesterday and will soon proceed to Hunan to serve under General Xue Yue. Guo Taiji was invited to dinner at the Yiyuan. Sir Archibald Clark-Kerr was the principal guest. Afterwards to Dr. Wang Chonghui’s place. Talked with him about my Ministry appointment. He agreed that I was the unfortunate victim of a contest between two rival factions for the post and that I was put in to satisfy, or rather to dissatisfy, both. I do not feel I like my work. There can be no love in a marriage of necessity. I have all my life hated to be others’ Vice-Ministers and now to be Vice-Minister to one who has accepted me only because he could not help it is utterly impossible. I must confess I feel very miserable. Since now I have knowledge of my real position, I have to be more careful and not assume too much of others’ friendship towards me.