Sunday, 5 February

Twenty-fourth day of the twelfth lunar month, Yiwei year

Edward Crankshaw published his opinion in the London Sunday Observer, outlining the many points of conflict between the Soviet Union and the Chinese communists.  During a visit to India by Soviet leaders, as well as other various countries in Western Europe for the purpose of strengthening Soviets ties with them, the Soviets have not shown great enthusiasm for the CCP joining the United Nations. Also, that the Soviet Union had twice proposed to the United States an alliance with them is a warning to the CCP. It is because the Chinese communists are arrogant.  In the past few years they have positioned themselves as the doyen of East Asia. As a matter of fact, the economic reconstruction of the Chinese communist government has needed a great deal of Soviet assistance, and economic reconstruction takes a long time to be successful. It seemed (what Edward Crankshaw said) was not ill-found.

Drew Middleton wrote in the New York Times that Eden assumes that (Britain) could make China drift away gradually from the CCP. ?(I wonder) if it is true that British envoys in China think that there is such a possibility, or it is merely one type of illusion?