Tuesday, 11 January

Fine, sun

The Soviet Government issued a declaration with regard to the border issue between the Soviet Union and Poland. It said that the Polish have voted and decided to return to the Soviet Union the lands in Belarus and Ukraine which were invaded by Poland. But the so-called 1939 border could be subject to change.  If the majority of people there are Polish, then the place will belong to Poland. The arrangement imitates the Curzon Line, which was determined by the Supreme Committee in the past. Any territory that belonged to Poland before and had been occupied by the Germans could also go back to Poland to enlarge its territory. The Soviet Union also wanted a strong Poland, and hoped Poland would join the Soviet-Czech alliance to defend against Germany. However, the Polish Government in exile has lost contact with the people and cannot organise and lead the work against Germany in their country, and the anti-Soviet policy has lost the sympathy of the people [for the Soviet Union]. All in all, if the Soviet Union was on friendly terms with Poland and united to fight Germany it would not only be beneficial to the two countries, but also necessary for the fighting of the Axis. This time the tone was mild and the demands more reasonable. This would make people who were suspicious of Soviet aggressive ambitions turn their views. Its influence is substantial. This move by the Soviet Union is fine. When I studied the history of China and other countries, I found that if a man or a country is strong and not snobbish, and gives way to weaker ones, then people will respect them. Though I did not expect the Soviet Union to be like this, it would be already very advantageous if the country could behave properly. As for the exiled Polish Government, it should reflect on its mistakes and resign so as to give way to better people to make reorganisation possible. It is still hopeful if it immediately negotiates with the Soviet Union. But I am not certain if the Polish Government will do it accordingly. Earlier I talked to Foreign Minister, Anthony Eden, and he also sighed that it was hard to make the Polish Government personnel understand (the whole situation).

2. Also the former Italian Minister of Foreign Affairs, Count Ciano, was sentenced to death by the law court organised by his father-in-law Mussolini. Ciano was originally a playboy, and in 1928 he was still a Second-Class Secretary at the Italian Embassy in Beiping. He went back to Italy in 1930 and married Mussolini’s daughter. He returned to China and became the Consul-General in Shanghai. Then he was promoted to Minister, and then Ambassador. After he returned to Italy, he became Minister of Foreign Affairs. There was also hope that he would succeed Mussolini. He has been doing so well and everybody envied him. However, he did not get on well with Mussolini afterwards. He was against him in the Party, and this time even pushed Mussolini to retire. Certainly, Mussolini was worthy of nothing, but Ciano was not the one who should have opposed him. If one is driven by interest, then the political order will be in chaos. So, there is no wonder that Ciano has ended up like this.