Wednesday, 21 April

Ms.Varshick came to teach me Russian.

In the evening the Military Attaché Guo invited the American Ambassador Standley and also the representative of the Lend-Lease Act General Burns and a certain Colonel [see original, unclear]. We talked about the Turkish broadcast on the new understanding reached between the Soviet Union and Japan, and the Soviet Union could transfer 30 to 40 divisions from the Far East to the western war zone. (The Iranian Ambassador told Counsellor Liu.) Ambassador Standley said he hadn’t heard of it. But according to the American Consulate report at Vladivostok, it said that Soviet troops in the East have been moving to the West. I asked him about the financial reorganisation conference with the United States and whether the Soviet Union would join or not. Ambassador Standley said no invitation for this conference was issued by him, but still he hasn’t heard the Soviet Union indicating she would join. With regard to the issue of Turkey joining the war, the Turkish Ambassador told him that Turkey would still try their best to be neutral, also from the side of the Allies, it was not necessary to ask Turkey to join. Because the Turkish army was not very strong and even if it joined its contribution was limited. As for airports, the Soviet Union’s airports are nearer to the German army. I talked to Ambassador Standley and General Burns with regard to the Turkestan-Siberia route. They also thought it was necessary. But General Burns remarked that the trucks needed to be delivered in instalments, and each time there should not be more than 600 or 700 trucks. It would be better to test it first. I agreed and asked him to deliver as early as possible.