Hore-Belisha,

Leslie Hore-Belisha (1st Baron Hore-Belisha), secretary of state for war, 1937–40; member of the War Cabinet, 1939–40.

the new war minister, came up to me unexpectedly at the Foreign Office dinner on 9 June and began to speak to me in very animated tones about his great interest in the USSR and his desire to visit us, to see the country, the people and, of course, the army. I expressed polite approval of his idea, but promised nothing, since it was not yet clear to me what Moscow would think of the war minister’s intention. He continued, even more vigorously than before: ‘When do you do manoeuvres?’ I replied that we usually conduct manoeuvres in the autumn, in August and September. Looking at me cunningly through squinted eyes, Hore-Belisha suddenly said: ‘Well, if I were to get an invitation to see your manoeuvres, I would probably come.’