Beautiful day. Received a wire from Koo 【顧維鈞] in London that the British government insisted on British steamers doing business on their own account and having their properties in China rehabilitated. The telegram says nothing about the flag or the future of the question of the navigation of rivers. My first reaction was very unfavorable, fearing that the British, exploiting our present necessity, wished to force the issue of the navigation of domestic rivers and waters. Received a wire from Cheng Pao-nan 【鄭寶南], expressing the same fear. After some consideration, decide to wire back asking for clarification. Cheng holds out the hope of getting American Army transports. There was another wire from Cheng asking about harbor accommodations along the China coast, information which the United Maritime Authority need, in order to decide about allocations of ships for the China run. Lehman refuses to pay expenses of the lend-lease trainees or to pay for the return passage of CNRRA 【行政院善後救濟總署] personnel selected from the United States. Kung 【孔祥熙] asked me to go over: he pressed me to save his Co. 中國興業公司 and to give large business to his Agricultural Implements Co. 【中國農業機械公司]. Again, an attempt at private profit at public expense. Gave him no hope. Evening, discussion with regional directors about their work.