Wednesday, 14 July

Today was French National Day. At 7.00 p.m., the French representative invited us to the “Garden”. According to the Canadian Minister and the British Charge d’Affaires, Satō was back in Kuibyshev from Moscow and seemed to be in a bad mood. The Canadian Minister asked Borodin for his opinion about the Allies’landing at Sicily, and asked why the Soviet newspapers are so cold towards such an important Allied forces military operation. Borodin replied that we shouldn’t get used to coming from the rear door, so one can see the Soviet ill-feelings about this. The Canadian Minister reckoned that the war in Sicily would take about two months and that it would take another 2 months to defeat Italy. And after fixing and checking the military devices, within 6 months they would be able to commence the attacks on Germany from the Balkans or France. From what they had learned from German captives the German army seemed to feel there was no hope of victory. In his personal view, he thought if the Allies could conquer Italy within six months, then internal change in Germany would become more likely. Because in the last war, it was the German people who wanted to change, but now the army feel that they are weak. This time the German people have no right to say, but the army already senses failure and is doomed. Its collapse will be rapid. So there is hope that the war could end next March, of course the Allied authorities don’t dare to claim this for fear that the people will feel victory is within sight, thus weakening the will to fight. The Yugoslavian Ambassador said the Soviet Union naturally thought that landing in Sicily was not enough, because the main German force is not fighting with the British and American armies, and this will not lessen the pressure on the Soviet Union. Also, it would take so much time to attack Germany from Italy. It is not what the Soviet Union wanted. The French Minister Garreau looks better now, because De Gaulle is in power. Also, attacking Germany from Italy is more advantageous for France. Borodin was friendly to me, but didn’t dare to talk about current affairs. Also I understood his difficulties, so I did not talk to him too much.

It has seemed very hot recently, and my room temperature has reached 90 degrees.  The Canadian Minister said his room temperature had reached 93 degrees. Luckily, it is still cool in the evening.