(1) 28 March: lunch at the British embassy (private), sightseeing tour of the city (3–4 p.m.), talk with Litvinov (approx. 4–6 p.m.), dinner at Litvinov’s and grand reception at Spiridonovka in the evening.

(2) 29 March: talk with Litvinov (approx. 10.30–12), visit to Molotov (12–1 p.m.), lunch at the British embassy (private), sightseeing tour of the Kremlin (3–4 p.m.), talk with Stalin (approx. 4–6 p.m.), ballet in the evening (Swan Lake with Semenova

Marina Timofeevna Semenova, people’s performing artist of the USSR, ballerina at the Bolshoi Theatre from 1930.

).

(3) 30 March: Museum of western painting (the French) in the morning, lunch at Litvinov’s dacha, visit to aircraft factory No. 22, dinner and reception at the British embassy.

(4) 31 March: Tretyakov Art Gallery in the morning, the Red Army Central House, ballet or theatre in the evening, departure.

The schedule for the third and fourth days is, we have agreed, tentative. It might be changed depending on the circumstances (except for dinner at the British embassy). Eden likes the programme very much, particularly the visits to the aircraft factory and the Red Army Central House. He would not, I think, be against seeing more in the military sphere, but hesitates to ask. We’ll decide what to do once in Moscow.

I spoke to Eden about Prague. He said that, taking into account Litvinov’s request, he would be prepared to visit Czechoslovakia for a day, but could not give the final answer as yet. He will think it over.

Regarding the agenda for discussion, Eden proposed the communiqué of 3 February and the Berlin talks. But he is prepared to discuss other matters as well if we so wish. Moreover, Eden let slip a significant phrase: ‘Who knows, following our Berlin talks Anglo-Soviet relations may just turn out to be a more important topic than the communiqué of 3 February.’ Perfectly possible. Clearly, Eden is not very optimistic about the talks with Hitler.

I have been informed from Moscow that a limousine will be dispatched to Nagoreloe. Vainberg (deputy chief of the third western department) will meet the delegation.

I shall add a few humiliating details. The note was delivered by Phipps

Eric Phipps, British minister in Paris, 1922–28, and in Vienna, 1928–33; ambassador in Berlin, 1933–37, and in Paris, 1937–39.

(the British ambassador in Berlin) at about 4 p.m. on the 18th. The reply was received at about 7 p.m. on the same day and sent to London by phone right away. At 9 p.m. the parliamentary session was interrupted (an unprecedented fact in history!) to let Simon communicate the joyous news: Hitler is prepared to grant the British ministers an audience after all!

How shameful! What degradation! See what hatred of the Soviet Union can lead one to…