I visited Vansittart yesterday

The meeting took place on 28 February.

and told him about Moscow’s attitude to Simon’s visit. V. was glad and only felt sorry that they had not made the move earlier. He had worked on the visit intensively during the past week, but the lack of response from the Soviet side somewhat weakened his position, all the more so as there are those in the Cabinet who oppose the visit (according to my information, these are the war minister, Lord Hailsham, and the minister for Indian affairs, Hoare

Samuel John Hoare (1st Viscount Templewood), Conservative, minister for Indian affairs, 1931–35; secretary of state for foreign affairs, 1935; first lord of the Admiralty, 1936–37; secretary of state for home affairs, 1937–39; lord privy seal, 1939–40; secretary of state for air, 1940; ambassador to Spain on special mission, 1940–44.

). Now V. can expedite the matter. The Cabinet will make a decision in three or four days’ time. Simon’s visit to Berlin has been approved only in theory; the dates and further itinerary have not yet been set. The Polish government has sent an unofficial invitation to visit Warsaw, but the official invitation has yet to arrive. V. was not quite sure who would go to Moscow – Simon or Eden, but I emphasized that we were expecting Simon.