Tuesday, 16 September

Wang Chonghui invited Dr. Carlos Rómulo, the most powerful newspaper leader in the Philippines, to have lunch at his home. Mr. Rómulo is extremely helpful to China. His so-called power of the Generalissimo meant he followed the whole country’s public opinion rather than forcing the people to follow his (the Generalissimo’s) will. His observation was insightful. In the evening T.F. Tsiang (蔣廷黻)[1] also invited Dr. Carlos Rómulo to dinner in the Executive Yuan. Lattimore talked happily during the dinner. I told Mr. Lattimore that negotiations between the United States and Japan were an extremely severe blow to the Chinese mentally, which made the Chinese worry whether the United States could uphold international justice. Although we believed that the United States would not betray us, and the negotiations would not yield any result, still the damage has been done. Mr. Lattimore strongly agreed with what I said. Sun Fo cabled Guo Taiji and was suspicious of the United States. Guo Taiji replied immediately, informing him of the real situation.

[1] Jiang Tingfu (1895-1965) had studied in Oberlin College and Columbia University. He was a historian and diplomat.