Had another long talks with Hsiung 【熊式輝] in the morning, We covered a wide range of topics: land tax, land reform, rural industry, hydroelectric power, etc. He seemed to appreciate what I advocated. Told him, as regards my being Minister of Finance, that it seemed best to allow C. 【蔣中正] several more months to reconsider. After 4 or 5 months, if he still insisted that I should assume the post, I would gladly return.
Got Tao 【陶振譽?] to take lunch with me. Talked about the CC group.
Saw Wang Shih-chieh 【王世杰] at 3 p.m. He had nothing particular to say.
Saw Wong Wen-hao 【翁文灝] at 5. He advised me to accept.
Took dinner with Hsiung. Present: Chang Kia-ngau 【張嘉璈], Ku Cheng-lun 【谷正倫] (former Governor of Kansu), Hsiung Pin 【熊斌] (former Governor of Shensi), Chang Chi-chung 【張治中], Chu Chia-hua 【朱家驊], Wei Tao-ming 【魏道明], etc. Afterwards, Chang Chi-chung came to my room to chat. We talked about T. V. 【宋子文], American loan, etc.