I was back in parliament at 3 p.m., on this occasion in Eden’s office. He asked me somewhat impatiently: ‘So, what’s the news?’ I communicated to him the substance of Moscow’s response. Eden was extremely glad. He remarked about the meeting with Stalin: ‘You understand, of course, that I would hardly insist on this for my own sake. But for the British public, for the man in the street, such a meeting is very important.’

Maisky explained to Eden that Stalin was no longer only the secretary of the Communist Party, but now held a ‘special position on the Executive of their elected Assembly. M. Maisky incidentally informed me with a grin that he himself was now an MP.’ Maisky was elected to the Central Committee of the Communist Party; TNA FO 371 19468 N1329/1167/38.

He was deeply moved on hearing that I would accompany him. Eden changed somehow, brightening up and exclaiming with unusual fervour: ‘Please convey my deepest gratitude to Mr Litvinov.’ Eden assured me that if Simon were to make a public statement on the visits, he would stress the equal importance of the Berlin and Moscow visits. At any rate, the press would be guided in this direction. The Times has already taken this line today on Eden’s advice. Eden was evasive about Prague: he would have to stay away from England for a couple of days more. Besides, he might cause offence: why has he come to Prague and not Bucharest or Belgrade? People are already talking along these lines now. I pointed out the importance of the Little Entente in the cause of European appeasement and the opportunity to gather the three foreign ministers of the Little Entente in Prague. Eden promised to think it over, but it was clear that he did not like the combination…

Hurrah! M.M. has shown his charitable side: I have permission to go to Moscow together with Eden, or a day in advance – but on condition that Eden sets off soon. I don’t understand this condition, but the main thing has been settled. Even if Eden sets off not so soon, I’ll go with him all the same. It’s a sure thing!

Maisky spent the weekend at the Webbs’ ‘very triumphant – glad that it is Eden and not Simon, whom he is chaperoning to Moscow on the 27th – he dislikes Simon intensely – mainly because he feels that, in this slippery lawyer, the USSR had an enemy. Also Eden represents the conservative party and is an “English gentleman” – qualifications which Simon lacks according to the ambassador’; Webb, diary, 16 March 1935, pp. 5944–5.