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Table of Contents
The Complete Maisky Diaries: Volume 1
  • 27 October 1937
  • 12 July
  • 18 July
  • 9 August
  • 30 October
  • 31 October
  • 1 November
  • 4 November
  • 5 November
  • 6 November
  • 7 November
  • 9 November
  • 10 November
  • 12 November
  • 15 November
  • 16 November
  • 17 November
  • 18 November
  • 23 November
  • 24 November
  • 25 November
  • 27 November
  • 28 November
  • 29 November
  • 1 December
  • 5 December
  • 6 December
  • 11 December
  • 13 December
  • 16 December
  • 17 December
  • 18 December
  • 19 December
  • 20 December
  • 24 December
  • 27 December
  • 31 December
  • 8 January
  • 9 January
  • 15 January
  • 18 January
  • 25 January
  • 26 January
  • 28 January
  • 1 February
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  • 6 February
  • 10 February
  • 12 February
  • 14 February
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  • 20 February
  • 21 February
  • 22 February
  • 28 February
  • 1 March (1)
  • 1 March (2)
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  • PS 1 October
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  • 25 September
  • 26 September
  • 27 September
  • 28 September
  • 29 September
  • 30 September
  • 1 October
  • 6 October
  • 11 October
  • 13 October
  • 15 October
  • 17 October
  • 19 October
  • 20 October
  • 22 October
  • 25 October
  • 26 October
  • 27 October
  • 28 October
  • 30 October
  • 31 October
  • 1 November
  • 3 November
  • 9 November
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© 2025
26 October
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By Liakhovetsky, Ivan Mikhailovich (Maisky)

The Complete Maisky Diaries: Volume 1

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26 October
So, my squabble with Lord Winterton is over. Today I had lunch with him at his place (various specific reasons had prevented us from meeting earlier). We were alone and the conversation was very open.
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:


Page 375

There are two types of great powers: natural and artificial. A natural great power, as I term it, is one that possesses a great, compact and rich territory and has a large, vigorous and stable population. There are three natural great powers in the world today: the USA, the USSR and China, in spite of the latter’s misfortunes in the past century. Presently, Germany is making a desperate attempt to become a natural great power: having a large and vigorous population, she is trying to obtain a great and compact territory by extending her sphere of influence to the countries of Central and South-East Europe. It is too early to tell how successful she will be. I call an artificial great power one that, lacking the two basic prerequisites mentioned above, has built its might on the possession of overseas territories (colonies, mandates, etc.) and a number of other economic, financial and political factors. Great Britain belongs to the great powers of the second type. Given the conditions and dimensions of the twentieth century, the island of Britain is not a natural great power by itself. Great Britain is a great power only thanks to its Empire. But the Empire is scattered all over the seas and continents and is strategically vulnerable from a dozen directions. Prior to the appearance of aeroplanes, Great Britain together with its Empire probably could be called a natural great power by virtue of its absolute supremacy at sea. All this changed, however, with progress in aviation. Great Britain lost the features of a natural great power and turned into an artificial great power. Hitler, no doubt, has taken all this into account. Furthermore, he regards the English as a nation running to seed. My conclusion: Lord Winterton is unduly optimistic when he assumes that Hitler will never raise arms against such a mighty power as the British Empire. The Soviet Union and Great Britain are incomparable in this respect.
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


Page 376

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.
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Document Details
Document Title26 October
AuthorLiakhovetsky, Ivan Mikhailovich (Maisky)
RecipientN/A
RepositoryN/A
ID #N/A
DescriptionN/A
Date1938 Oct 26
AOC VolumeThe Complete Maisky Diaries: Volume 1
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