Tuesday, 30 May
Fine, sun
The American side declared that Secretary of State Hull had already prepared a proposal for the international organisation, and forwarded it to Britain, the Soviet Union and China for discussion. It seems to be that the American side wants the Soviet Union and Britain to show whether their attitudes to the international problems are sticking to the principles decided at the Moscow Conference, or whether they will act unilaterally as per their own wishes before the opening of the second war zone. The United States did the right thing at the right time, and it is only the United States that has the capability to solve this problem. Also, the Soviet newspapers published that our Twelfth Plenary meeting started on twentieth of this month and ended on twenty-seventh, and resolved the various proposals on politics, the economy and commodity prices. But the Ministry of Foreign Affairs did not inform us beforehand. It is totally unreasonable. Therefore I talked to Counsellors Liu and Chen, sending telegrams to ask the Ministry of Foreign Affairs to cable us with regard to Hull’s proposal and what happened in the 12th Plenary meeting. The Ministry of Foreign Affairs treating envoys like this can hardly allow us to operate smoothly. Compared with the British and American Embassies who receive news from their countries and other news, we are extremely disgraced. The Generalissimo asked me to do everything to the standard of the British and American Ambassadors. And yet the Ministry of Foreign Affairs treats me like this. My feeling is exactly like the Chinese saying that someone wanted his horse to move fast but did not give it any grass.
Last night Attaché Hu came to talk about her problems with her work and studies. She has worked quite hard at the Embassy, and is still anxious to learn and study. This is very good.
At 4.00 in the afternoon I went to the National Hotel to make a return visit to the Uruguay Minister Frugoni. After this we went to a second-hand shop to buy an antique French lacquered plate. The story painted on the plate is of Napoleon crowning his wife Josephine. It is very nice, but was for sale at 1,100 rubles. But because the commercial Attaché Gifford is getting married, and he has been very helpful to the Chinese Embassy, I wanted to give this to him as a wedding present.