Tuesday, 3 October

Fine

From 11.45 in the morning to 2.15 in the afternoon I studied Russian.

Originally for this year’s Double Ten celebrations I wanted to have a reception at the Embassy. But today the Grand Hotel sent me the estimate stating that it would cost more than 60,000 rubles, this differed greatly from the one last year which cost slightly more than 20,000 rubles. Also recently the war situation in China hasn’t gone well. If I spend more than US$5,000 for just one reception, I am afraid I will incur criticism. Therefore both Jingchen and Shaozhou thought that it was not necessary to hold the reception and I threw away the idea. Also during the war Britain and the United States had no receptions for their national days. So no one would blame me if I did not hold it.

The war within Warsaw city has failed. This type of non-cooperation leads to such great sacrifice and the Polish exile government should take responsibility.

Churchill reported in Parliament yesterday. He said that with regard to asking for compensation from Germany the Allies are still unable to reach a consensus. This is enough to prove that there are still many issues which Britain, the United States and the Soviet Union cannot all agree on.

Charles de Gaulle declared that France should adopt a planned economy, and he ordered the take over of the coal mine in northern France as well as the Renault car factory. This is appropriate action. Although American public opinion has criticised this I think that if it doesn’t go this way France will have no hope of resurrection.