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Table of Contents
The Complete Maisky Diaries: Volume 3
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© 2025
20 January
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By Liakhovetsky, Ivan Mikhailovich (Maisky)

The Complete Maisky Diaries: Volume 2

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20 January
I saw Vansittart after a six-week interval. I found him in a state of great anxiety. The situation in Europe, he believes, is exceptionally dangerous: 1939 is going to be a critical year (I heard the same from Cadogan the other day). Hitler and Mussolini are intoxicated by their success. They have lost their equilibrium and are preparing for crazy adventures. Hitler, in particular, is now setting global domination as his goal. Both dictators think that the time is ripe for action: they are gambling on ‘defects in armaments’ and ‘internal discord’ in Britain and France, as well as on ‘isolationist sentiments’ and ‘domestic weakness’ in the Soviet Union. Growing economic difficulties are also pushing Hitler and Mussolini towards foreign adventures. An explosion is inevitable in the near future, but where? In the west, most likely, but one cannot rule out the east either. If the Spanish government is finally crushed, Mussolini will immediately make heavy demands on France. He will be guaranteed the support of Germany. A decisive moment will then ensue for Britain and France. Vansittart believes that on this occasion the reaction of the two ‘democracies’ will be sharply negative. If the dictators try to resort to force, war will be a firm possibility. In this connection, Vansittart inquired about our position and asserted that the interests of Britain, France and the USSR are identical and that Hitler’s tactics are to crush one country after another, just as an artichoke is eaten one leaf at a time.
I observed that Vansittart was making his points to the wrong party. The USSR has always supported collective security, but what about Britain and France? In the last three years they have systematically undermined the principles of the L[eague] of N[ations]. I fail to see any signs that might indicate a shift in their attitude. On the contrary, there are signs to suggest that they are sinking ever deeper in that swamp.
‘What do you mean?’ Vansittart asked.
‘Take for instance the fuss, kicked up by some groups of British industrialists and evidently supported by the Board of Trade, about the demand for the renunciation of the Anglo-Soviet trade agreement.’


Page 446

Vansittart, who was clearly not up to date on this matter, asked me to acquaint him with the details. I was only too glad to brief him and pointed out that, given the present alignment of forces, Britain would not be able to obtain a more advantageous agreement under any conditions, even if the current one were renounced. For, in the past five years, the USSR has become considerably stronger and wealthier, and less dependent on imports than it was when the present agreement was signed.
‘In February 1934,’ I concluded, ‘I recommended my government to accept the agreement which was then signed. If I had to conduct trade negotiations again now, I would not consider it possible to recommend signing a similar document. The alignment of forces has changed in our favour and this would have to be reflected in the character of the trade agreement.’
Vansittart was concerned. He thought it absurd to renounce the agreement just because we were buying more re-exports than purely British goods. The political effect of the renunciation would far outweigh its potential economic consequences.
‘Renunciation would be most unfortunate,’ Vansittart concluded.
And he immediately asked his secretary to summon Collier after lunch so as to discuss the matter with him.
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Document Details
Document Title20 January
AuthorLiakhovetsky, Ivan Mikhailovich (Maisky)
RecipientN/A
RepositoryN/A
ID #N/A
DescriptionN/A
Date1939 Jan 20
AOC VolumeThe Complete Maisky Diaries: Volume 2
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