I saw Eden today at a Persian reception and learned that the British would be lodged in the British embassy. So, Spiridonovka is out. Only one room will be needed there – for me. When I asked what he would like to see in Moscow, Eden replied: first and foremost, the collection of French masters (Gauguin, Cézanne, Matisse, etc.), then architecture, theatre and the ballet in particular. He leaves the rest to our discretion. He should be shown something in the sphere of the military and aviation – this is spectacular, it makes an impression, and forces one to take the USSR more seriously…

First, Matsudaira (the Japanese ambassador) looked absolutely delighted to see me and crossed the hall to shake my hand and congratulate me on the favourable conclusion of talks on the sale of the Chinese Eastern Railway. He said that the chances of concluding a Japanese–Soviet non-aggression pact were better now than ever before. Well, well! That’s what it means to have a mighty air force in Vladivostok! Matsudaira had been extremely cool and even haughty towards me before. Being a relative of the Japanese emperor (his daughter is married to Prince Chichibu

Prince Yasuhito Chichibu, Japanese prince and member of the imperial family, 1902–53.

) and a ‘friend’ of the English king, Matsudaira considers himself a cut above other ambassadors, especially the Soviet one. Not once has he invited me to dinner or lunch during my stay in London. Now look how eager he is! He even walked over to me and shook my hand, his face shining like the sun. Yes, it’s good to have a mighty air force! Stalin is right, ten thousand times right, that only the strong are reckoned with…

Second, the Lithuanian told me that on 13 March the envoys of Lithuania, Latvia and Estonia made a démarche concerning the Eastern Pact. There were nuances, however. The Lithuanian declared straightaway that his government supported the mutual assistance pact. The Estonian, not specifying which pact was meant, spoke of the indivisibility of western and eastern security. The Latvian first asked Simon about the British government’s attitude to the mutual assistance pact, and having heard that the British government viewed it favourably, inquired how the British government would view an Eastern Pact of non-aggression. The Latvian’s behaviour is quite typical: these are all German tricks!