Monday, 15 November

Yesterday, the Swedish Minister Assarson told Military Attaché Guo that Satō went to see him the day before yesterday. Satō said as follows. 1) Japanese warlords behaved badly. It is a great pity the situation has turned worse now. 2) At recent conferences in Chongqing, some militarists advocated making peace with Japan. If this is the case, then Japan should try its best to offer the best terms it could. 3) The Japanese army has completed the Thai-Burmese railway line. This is enough to reveal the Japanese emotion that they know defeat is near and they are eager for a peace settlement.

In the afternoon, American Ambassador Harriman invited me to tea. He also believes that the Soviet Union has no territorial ambitions. He has paid close attention to Far Eastern affairs. He asked me as follows.1) With regard to Annam, I told him straightforwardly that the French colony is mismanaged, and it treats natives badly. So what I suggested was to make Annam independent. He asked if I thought the Annam people had the ability and experience to self-govern or not. I said I strongly believed they could. 2) With regard to Nanyang, I said that the policy the British Government adopted previously was not very enlightened, so I hoped the friendly nation of Britain, and especially that the United States, could urge Britain to change its policy and so that it should take more care over the welfare of natives and should take the governing of colonies as a duty if not a right. He strongly agreed with me. 3) As to the Dutch colonies, I said my opinion was the same with regard to Nanyang. 4) With regards to Korea, I told him about what happened to our government’s recognition of the Korean Government last year, and I also told him that our country really wanted to help it to self-govern. He asked if the Soviet Union had made any attempt for it. I said the Soviet Union might not have territorial ambition, but surely wanted a friendly new Chosen which was strong enough to counter Japan. 5) With regard to Hong Kong, I said based on the experience of this war, it could prove that it was not a military port that could be self-sustained, and even if Britain kept it it would be of no use. As for repairing ships, China could discuss this with Britain, as China, Britain, the United States and the Soviet Union cooperated to maintain the peace of the world, then the use of military ports could be negotiated. For example in the future, the United States will frequently have to use the military ports of Britain and financially speaking Hong Kong can’t be independent from China. He also agreed. 6) With regard to what we need for China’s post-war construction, I tried my best to tell him and said we will need help from the United States in many aspects in the future. He said he was willing to help.

In the afternoon, Hu came and talked to me for a long time.