ABSTRACT
January 1 (Tuesday): After 2-1/2 years of Chungking, the sunshine and flatness of Shanghai are striking changes. We re-opened the Inspectorate at Shanghai today (although I didn’t go near the office), after the war years at Chungking. Attended five receptions: 10 a.m., Customs Club, where I spoke to the staff along the lines of my talk at Hankow yesterday. Incidentally, I told them how fortunate Shanghai was to have escaped the destruction that Hankow suffered, and said that had Shanghai been proportionately destroyed, the recovery of China would have been put back 25 years. 11:30 a.m., reception by Mayor of Shanghai, in the former S.M.C. building. Met a lot of old friends; saw plenty of gold braid. 12 noon, cocktails, etc., at Standard Oil Manager’s house, where I met many more old friends, some going back 30 years and others as recently as Chungking days. 5 p.m., reception at Community Church. Cold as Greenland. Only a few old-timers when I arrived, among whom were George and Gerry Fitch. The latter was campaigning against the “Trustee-ship System” for Korea. Gerry always has some cause or other. She is far too earnest and serious for me; how I’d hate to be married to a gal of that type, and have to listen to crusades for breakfast, lunch and dinner. 5:30 p.m., Paul Josselyn 1 invited me to his apartment at the Cathay Hotel, where he entertained the Consulate Staff. Jean was expected to arrive from America today, but her ship didn’t dock, and nobody seemed to know exactly when she would.
