Diary pages from this date

Once again Japs look like business, and they can't call it off every time.

Mary Taylor phoned me about a possible new job, so at 5pm I went to 3rd floor, Hong Kong Bank Building, and met Elsie Cholmondeley, tall and fair, very blue eyes, employed there (Stabilization Board of China.)  I was there until 7pm and everyone still working - wouldn't like that continuously.  Mr Fox interviewed me, he sprawled over a table... said he couldn't take any one till he got more room. ((I seem to think he was American, and I dont think he was in Stanley... none of the people on Stanley list named Fox sound like him. Perhaps he got away before 8th Dec, he certainly spoke about going 'on a trip' when he interviewed me shortly before.))

The Canadian soldiers who arrived yesterday have been confined to barracks for two days but during this period Vince Calder and a friend go 'over the fence' to look around:

Cpl. Jack Burns and I were the first 2 Canadians in Jingles (sic) 'Palace Hotel' and from then on, he couldn't do enough for us (imagine a T-bone steak and all the trimmings for 28 cents).

They can't know that in Tokyo the Imperial Conference confirms formally today that diplomacy has failed. War is now inevitable.

Sources

Canadian: Vince Calder, A Guest of the Emperor

Conference: W. G. Beasley, Japanese Imperialism, 1987, 235

Note: Canadian interest in Gingle's resturant is also noted in the early part of the controversial documentary Savage Christmas.