Saturday, 19 February
Fine, sun
At 11.30 a.m. I studied Russian and concentrated on conversation. In the afternoon I went to the American Embassy to watch movies. They were all-black cast films, and there was much singing and dancing. It was fine.
At 9.00 in the evening, Secretary Gou Zengqi left Moscow for Tashkent to become the Consul General. He has been working in the Embassy for more than ten years. He is quite reliable, so I recommended him for promotion to take over this new post. He asked for my advice. I told him about the importance of the Sino-Soviet relationship at the moment, and to handle everything with prudence. He should try to put the country’s best interests and needs first because the future of our country will be decided in the next one or two years, and the decisive factor will be diplomacy. The Soviet Union is one of the most important nations concerning our diplomacy, so no matter whether we are senior or junior diplomats, we should know the importance of our jobs. We should also know it is related to the future of our country, and we must strive and pay attention. I also asked him to pay attention and send more reports, and we also went to the station to see him off.
The Soviet army has recaptured Stareya Russa in the North. The American fleet has advanced to the West in the Pacific and has occupied Wotho Island and Eniwetok Island.
The Soviet Government presented General Dwight Eisenhhower with a Suvorov 1st Class medal.