Friday, 27 June

Had lunch at General Wu Tiecheng’s. He is extremely friendly and invited me to spend a few days with him. At three o’clock to the aerodrome to meet Guo Taiji and Xia Jinlin(夏晉麟)[1]. Both looked fine and had gained considerable weight. Dr. Wang Chonghui invited them to dinner at the Farm House. Guo Taiji said the food conditions in Great Britian are bad enough but much worse in Germany. He seemed quite certain of an ultimate victory for Great Britain. As to Germany’s attack on the U.S.S.R., Great Britain had been previously informed but the U.S.S.R. did not want to move when the British Government suggested closer cooperation. Xia Jinlin came to me after dinner. He told me how Guo Taiji had approached him and how Guo Taiji intended to have both the deputy-ministers changed when they were on their way. Guo Taiji even mentioned me as his best Political Deputy Minister. I told Xia I would not accept it not because I did not want to work with Guo Taiji nor do I regard a Vice-Minister-ship as beneath me, but I thought he ought to retain Xu Mo while I can serve him better by remaining outside the Ministry and retain my present position. I asked him to let Guo Taiji know that he should not embarrass me by actually making such a proposal. Xia Jinlin said he had fully expected my refusal and had told Guo Taiji so.

[1] Xia Jinlin(1896-1993) was a Chinese diplomat who received his education at Edinburgh University. Refered to C.L. Hsia in the diary.