Papers carry my resignation and Ho’s 【霍寶樹] appointment, without comment. Only one evening tabloid states, (1) that foreigners have faith in me, and (2) I am the last scholar to leave the government. There are many private expressions of indignation against T. V. 【宋子文], but of public expression, there is none.
Edgerton and group came to lunch.
Jacobson dropped in and expressed his disappointment at the change. I told him that the fundamental issues were: (1) the interior vs. Shanghai, (2) special plutocratic interests vs. general interest of the public, and relief through Party organs vs. relief through CNRRA 【行政院善後救濟總署] and UNRRA 【聯合國善後救濟總署]. Jacobson said he understood the issues. He had in the past framed procedures, which on the surface looked like interfering but which at bottom were aimed at strengthening my hand. Gilpatric had a talk with C. M. 【李卓敏]. He is bent on two points (1) will T. V. come across with the money? and (2) will the government try to play loose with UNRRA supplies? These two questions are of course uppermost in people’s minds.
Ho came to have a chat. He wanted me to continue to handle the foreign side of CNRRA. I don’t see how I could do it. But of course I must do everything to help him.