 | | Stalin: In that case, would you deem the following scenario acceptable: Declare that the agreement on Port Arthur shall remain in force until a peace treaty with Japan is signed, after which the Russian troops would be withdrawn from Port Arthur. Or perhaps one could propose another scenario: Declare that the current agreement shall remain in place, while in effect withdrawing troops from Port Arthur. We will accept whichever of these scenarios is more suitable. We agree with both scenarios.
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| | Mao Zedong: This question should be thought through. We agree with the opinion of Comrade Stalin and believe that the agreement on Port Arthur must remain in force until a peace treaty is signed with Japan, after which the treaty shall become invalid and the Soviet soldiers will leave. However, we would like for Port Arthur to be a place for military collaboration, where we could train our military naval forces.
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| | Stalin: The question of Dalny [Dalian]. We have no intention of securing any Soviet rights in Dalny.
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| | Mao Zedong: Will Dalny remain a free port?
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| | Stalin: Since we are giving up our rights there, China must decide on its own the question of Dalny: Will it remain a free port or not? During his time Roosevelt insisted that Dairen [Dalian] remain a free port.
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| | Mao Zedong: So the preservation of the free port would be in the interests of America and Britain?
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| | Stalin: Of course. It's a house with open gates.
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