Saturday, 28 June

Guo Taiji called early in the morning and we talked about various general subjects and afterwards he went to call on the Generalissimo and had lunch there. When he returned with Dr. Wang he said he had many things of importance to tell me and asked me to see him after my dinner party at Dr. Sun’s. I did so and had a long talk with him from ten to one in the morning.  He told me that when he received a telegram from the Generalissimo asking him to return to take up the Ministry of Foreign Affairs he was taken by surprise as he had never expected such an honour. The Generalissimo also asked him to suggest his successor to London. His immediate thought was to recommend me, but since the Generalissimo mentioned Gu Weijun he thought it better to raise no objection. As for his deputy ministers Xu Mo was anxious to leave for health reasons, so he wanted me to be his Political Vice-Minister. In fact he had mentioned it to the Generalissimo who approved of it but said he doubted whether I would accept it. Guo Taiji related to him our past connections, how we had worked together under old Dr. Wu Tingfang(伍廷芳)[1] and Wu Chaoshu etc, and said I could hardly refuse to help him, but suggested to the Generalissimo he speak to me. To this the Generalissimo consented. He (Guo Taiji) wanted me to understand he had no intention of forcing me to undertake any work by getting our leader to order me, but he was very anxious to get my cooperation in an epoch-making work and even went so far as to say that his success meant my success and his failure my failure. I told him I could hardly refuse to serve under him, nor could I regard a Vice-Minister-ship as beneath me, but I have my reasons for asking him to reconsider the case. In the first place, I did not know our leader’s real opinion of me. Although I have tried my best to serve him directly during the past ten years there had never been any occasion for me to find out his real opinion of me, although outwardly he has shown me on many occasions only kindness. Secondly, I honestly thought Xu Mo could serve him better as a Vice-Minister. People accused Xu Mo of abusing his power at the Ministry and building up his own clique. However, I think the accusation a bit unjust. Most of the ministers he served did not know the office routine and procedures and were glad to leave things in his hands. Even Dr. Wang Chonghui found it easier to continue such a policy. With Guo Taiji himself things could easily be changed. He could take many things into his own hands and leave the routines with Xu. I am sure Xu Mo would gladly accept such a situation, thus the two would make an excellent combination. Thirdly, I do not feel happy leaving Dr. Sun Fo at present when he is not in a good situation. Guo Taiji said, judging from his talk with the leader, the latter’s attitude towards me has never been as good as now. As to Xu Mo, his health prevented him from continuing to stay in Chungking, and, I could serve Dr. Sun just as well as the Ministry, if not better, in the Yuan. He then related to me his policy, which I thoroughly agreed, and how he proposed to work it out. Before I left I still asked him to reconsider my case, and if he could get another candidate and bypass me. When I returned Dr. Wang Chonghui was waiting for me and we talked until 2.30 a.m. He thought it impossible for me to refuse if the leader should speak to me.

[1] Wu Tingfang(1842-1922) was the father of Wu Chaoshu. He was an influential Cantonese politician from the late Qing to the early Republican era.