Tuesday, 24 October

Dull

I studied Russian in the morning.

At noon the Czechoslovakian Ambassador invited me for lunch. I was the guest of honour, but as a matter a fact this was a farewell lunch for Mr. Hubbell of the Red Cross. I talked to American Counsellor Kennan. He thought that the Soviet Government criticised the Iranian Government as the latter was unwilling to give it oilfields. It is simply too much. He also said that Japan has withdrawn its Consulate in Vladivostok. I talked to him about Soviet policy towards Japan. He said when Americans talked to the Soviet people about Japan, they would all say that after the defeat of Germany the Soviet Union would definitely join the war against Japan. But he thought they might be too optimistic. I also agreed. Also I told him about the importance of the Chinese army in the war against Japan in the future.

At 6.00 p.m. Mr. Hubbell gave a farewell tea party. Ambassador Kerr told me that Churchill’s wordings regarding China were extremely unwise, no wonder the reaction from the Chinese side has been so strong. I told him that our patience has been stretched to the extreme and if the Allies still treated China with such attitude, there can be no morality in this world. All these reactions were merely self-defence. He was very sympathetic to us.

At 8.00 p.m. Attaché Guo invited Burrows for a banquet at the Attachés residence to bid farewell to him. Burrows told me that he was afraid that the European army may be unable to mount a big strike towards the Germans until March or April next year. Because of difficulties in transportation, they cannot take Antwerp earlier.Probably after the port has been occupied and after one month of renovation then it could be used. Afterwards it might take three months to transport materials to the Front lines in the Netherlands and Belgium. Only then would they be able to mount the final strike on Germany. He also said that one could not be too courteous towards the Soviet Government, everything had to be exchanged. For instance, since he arrived here the Soviet side haven’t allowed him to inspect the Front lines for long. Therefore he asked the British Government to forbid the Soviet military officers to visit the Front lines. After that the Soviet Union allowed him to inspect the Front lines. Even a few days ago, when Admiral Archer wanted to discuss several things with the Soviet military authorities, the Soviet side absolutely refused and said during this military period no discussion was allowed. So Admiral Archer then replied that if that was the case he asked the Soviet side to reply in letter so that he could report back to the British Government and take it as policy reference in giving Soviet aid. In less than three days the Soviet side asked him to go again and changed its attitude completely. The Soviet side agreed to all his requests. Therefore Burrows said that I should do the same. I thanked him for his kindness and said I would consider. But as a matter of fact our status is different from Britain. Now the Soviet Union has much to ask from Britain, so the latter can use this kind of method to deal with the Soviet Union. However our side has much to ask from the Soviet Union, so that we cannot use such a retaliatory policy. He also advocated that Military Attaché Guo should take a look at the war zone in Western Europe as Britain and the United States could try their best to accommodate him and on returning to Moscow, the Soviet side would no longer dare to bully him. It was a suggestion with good intention.

Britain, America and the Soviet Union simultaneously and formally announced that they recognise De Gaulle’s Government as the French Provisional Government.