Saturday, 30 October

In the morning, I received a phone call from Hull. He said that though the signing matter was not yet concluded, he advised me to go to the venue at 4.00 in the afternoon first and wait for him in the American delegate area. At the time, I went to the American Embassy with Counsellor Liu Shaozhou, and went together with American Counsellor Hamilton to Spirodonovka Palace, which was the venue. Mr. Hull received me in the American delegate area, saying that perhaps I may have to wait a long while. When I was waiting there I was rather nervous, so I told Hamilton that it was like a nerve war. He smiled at me. We waited from 4.00 to 6.00, until the Soviet aide came to me and briefed me on the signing etiquette in the venue, the preparation was ready, and he asked me to go. I then went with Counsellor Liu to the so-called White Marble Music Room, which was the venue. I found the filming and photography preparations were already set up. When I walked into the room, the three foreign ministers stood up to welcome me, and all the delegates left the conference round tables, and the seats were rearranged. Molotov was in the Chairman’s seat, Hull sat on his right, Eden his left. I was placed on Hull’s right and Marshal Voroshilov and Litvinov accompanied us. The American Ambassador and others stood behind. During the signing, Molotov asked Hull to sign first and then Eden, and then me. We asked him to sign first, therefore he did. We signed four copies. One was in Russian and the Soviet Union kept it. Three were in English, and Britain, the United States and China kept one each respectively. After signing we all shook hands and congratulated each other.  We all showed our happiness and enthusiasm. Molotov was particular friendly to me, and asked me if I was satisfied. I answered that I was extremely happy, so he shook hands with me again. He also talked to Counsellor Liu and said that he must be very happy too. Liu answered yes. The filming and photographers kept going. Molotov told me that they still had to continue the conference, so I left. This time we were successful because of Hull’s constant help, Eden’s enthusiastic patronage, as well as the friendliness of Molotov towards our country. After the start of the German-Soviet war, because of circumstances, the Soviet Union always tried to keep apart from us for fear it might incur the anger of Japan. This time the Soviet Union’s agreement for us to attend and sign the Four Powers Declaration was simply wonderful and since we have entered into this kind of declaration we become equal with Britain, the United States and the Soviet Union, which are the three powers, we have attained a leading position in the world of politics, which is instrumental to our war efforts against enemies and the rebuilding of world peace. It is not only the most important document in the history of our country, it is also a document which marks a great turning point in the history of world peace. That I managed to take part in signing this is the biggest honour in my life. Therefore, in the evening during the reception at the British Embassy, Eden asked me how I felt about the event that happened this afternoon, I replied that this was the happiest day in my life. He said not only me he was also very happy. People in the Diplomatic Corps who heard us chatting felt very strange because the contents of the conference have been kept absolutely secret, so nobody knew what we were talking about. Even the articles sent out by British and American reporters today only thought it was a Three Powers Declaration. The participation of China was a big surprise to the world’s people. The Swedish Minister and Borodin asked me why I was so happy. I told him that today was my happiest day. They would know in the coming few days, and then they would congratulate me. The shook my hands and congratulated me in advance.

After I returned to the Embassy I cabled the Generalissimo and Minister Song to make detailed reports.