Monday, 18 October

Hull and Eden have arrived this afternoon one after another. The Soviet Commissar of Foreign Affairs, Molotov, and others went to meet them. This conference among the three foreign ministers is important. It greatly affects the Allies’ future. The Foreign Ministry repeatedly cabled me, asking me to gather information. I then asked all the people in the Embassy to help. Counsellor Liu Shaozhou linked up with all the embassies and the Soviet side. Also, Military Attaché Guo is in touch with military representatives and Military Attachés from the other countries. Attaché Hu Jibang is in connection with reporters of the various countries.

In the evening I invited the Chairman of American Aid, Carter, the representative of the Red Cross, Hubbell, the agricultural expert, Dr Michael, and the Secretary of the American Embassy, Calder, for dinner. Calder said if Britain and the United States open the second war zone in France, they could ask the Soviet its attitude towards Japan, otherwise it will be difficult to ask. Hubbell talked eloquently about the United States’ situation, saying that American politics since Harding and Hoover totally represented the people of Wall Street. At one time the Americans had arrived at a most dangerous period, because the poor became poorer and the rich got richer. If it were not for Roosevelt being elected President and the country undergoing thorough reform, then the United States would have internal seizures. Although the crisis is over, if Willkie is elected, America will definitely fall to extreme private capitalism. The future will be very doubtful. He understands the Soviet Union very well and is very good to our country. The power of elders of his type can not be underestimated.