Winterton began by making apologies. He begged pardon for his speech, which he thought a mistake, and assured me that not only he, but all members of the Cabinet desire the best possible relations with the USSR. Hmm! Let’s suppose. I said a few conciliatory phrases in reply, as the occasion demanded.

We then began to talk seriously about the current situation. We spoke frankly. Winterton put forward the notion, shared by many Englishmen at present, that Hitler’s next move will be the Ukraine. I disappointed him by advancing approximately the same arguments that I had used in my talk with Halifax on 11 October. My words evidently made an impression on him, because he hastened to admit the justice of my thesis about the small probability of a German advance to the east. At the same time he tried to contest my assertion that Britain was in imminent danger, claiming that Hitler would not dare to encroach upon the integrity and inviolability of such a great power as the British Empire. In this respect, the chances of the USSR and the British Empire are even. ‘Isn’t it so?’ Winterton asked me.

‘Not exactly,’ was my reply.

Then I told him what I thought about this question not as an ambassador, but as an impartial and unofficial political observer:

Evidently, the honourable lord had hardly ever been subjected to such an appraisal from anyone, let alone a foreign ambassador. And clearly he did not feel at ease. While I was speaking, his tall, stick-like figure fidgeted nervously on the chair. But the England of today is no longer the proud great-power England that I observed during the years of my emigration and that took any doubting of its strength or future as utter sacrilege. Winterton, therefore, had to resign himself to my words. When I finished, he tried to defend himself, but he did so rather feebly and unconvincingly. To sweeten the pill, I made a few compliments about British self-possession and administrative talents. Winterton cheered up. We then talked for a while about various aspects of the current situation and parted as ‘friends’. Winterton expressed a desire to meet again, together with our wives, and added in conclusion: ‘My friend Lord Halifax told me that you would lunch with him next week. It would be very good if you could repeat to him what you expounded so convincingly to me today.’

Well I never!

Leaving Winterton’s place, I recalled the English rule: if you can’t strangle the enemy, embrace him.