Sunday, 7 November

In the morning, because today is Soviet National Day, and the weather fine, I went with Counsellor Chen and Attachés Hu and Qian for a walk outside. There was no special celebration in the street; only hosting flags and slogans. We had lunch at the National Hotel.

At 8.30 p.m., the Soviet Commissar of Foreign Affairs, Molotov, invited us to have dinner at the Guest House. We were informed by telephone that if we had dinner jackets we should wear them, if not, a dark suit would be fine. I could only wear a dark suit. The Soviet diplomatic personnel all wore new uniforms and I went with all the Embassy personnel and their families. I went first to shake hands with Molotov and others, and to congratulate them, and then the music started. The programmes were very good. 1) A violin concert by Professor Oistrakh 2) Baritone solo by Ivanov, 3) two songs by Panova (Soprano) 4) two songs by Spiller – mezzo-sop. 5) two songs by Reizin (bass), 6) Obraztsov – three puppet shows, quite good. 7) Piano solo by Safranovsky, 8) Song by Kozlovsky (Tenor).

After the music, there was refreshment and wine to celebrate. Because of the huge success of the Moscow Conference, all the Soviet people were all very happy and seemed very enthusiastic. In contrast Satō looked pitiful. Initially I was about to enter the room where the Soviet Commissar of Foreign Affairs Molotov and others were present, then I saw Molotov was talking to the British and American Ambassadors, and many people were around, asking me to drink. Satō, his Military Attachés, and colleagues were standing in the same room but no one talked to them. What I felt was as follows. 1) I felt that if I joined Molotov, people might think that because of the success of the Four Powers Declaration, I was trying to show that China was of the same ranking as Britain, the United States and the Soviet Union, not wanting to mix with other countries and changing my previous attitude. That might not be very good. 2) I couldn’t drink. 3) I did not want to stay in the same room as the Japanese so I went to another room. Then Soviet Commissar of Foreign Affairs Molotov came and saw me in the distance and screamed out “Fu Bingchang I should have a cup of wine with you.” As I couldn’t drink I begged if I might have a glass of water instead of wine, but he wouldn’t hear of it and forced me to have a large glass of wine, and wish Sino-Soviet friendship. Other ministers especially the Japanese, were very jealous. In particular Minister Lifanov talked a lot with me. He mentioned the CCP problem, saying that the present Soviet policy was to help China become a strong country to resist Japan. The Soviet Union was not willing to see a divided China, and wouldn’t help the CCP oppose Generalissimo Chiang, and would not intervene in the internal politics of China. He saw two personnel from the Japanese Embassy. He then dragged Counsellor Chen next to them, and raised his glass to toast China would defeat its enemy. Molotov was already drunk. The Swedish Minister talked to him, he then said the Swedish Gorvernment’s attitude was bad. Minister Assarson tried to explain. But Molotov shouted out that no one in the Soviet Union was agreeable towards Sweden. Minister Assarson was very embarrassed. Molotov also had an altercation with the American Vice Naval Military Attaché. When Molotov left, it happened that two Japanese also left. Molotov saw (name unclear), and asked where he was back from. He answered that he was back from China. Molotov replied that he was also back from China, China was his friend, and he also wanted to go to China. He deliberately wanted the two Japanese to listen. One could tell from all these things that both the Government and public of the Soviet Union are friendly to China. Attaché Hu reported to me afterwards.1) Vice Minister Dekanozv kept on asking where I was, and he said that China and the Soviet Union should remain friendly. Then he mentioned the Xinjiang authority’s attitude and he expressed regret for this. Attaché Hu explained to him the issue of Xinjian based on the telegrams sent by Liang Hancao. 2) Vice Minister Korneichuk expressed his goodwill to China, and that he wanted to visit China in the future. Ambassador Kerr told me afterwards that Vice Minister Korneichuk had raised his glass with him, to say they were all united to defeat Japan.