Halifax told me, inter alia, that following our conversation on 27 January he had made a careful study of Anglo-Soviet trade relations and had reached the conclusion that renunciation of the current trade agreement would be undesirable. However, since the British industrialists have been complaining about a number of difficulties in trade relations between the two countries, the best solution, in his view, would be a visit by a British minister to Moscow in order to try to settle contentious issues through amicable talks. Such a visit, furthermore, could have a certain political effect, which would be particularly desirable in the current situation. Hence Hudson’s mission, announced in parliament today.

Maisky had spent a whole month meticulously preparing the visit. He hoped to use the conducive atmosphere to exert pressure on Halifax through Churchill and other amenable

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members of the opposition. John Rothenstein attests that, after dinner, ‘Churchill and Lord Halifax successively withdrew to an adjoining room for the better part of half an hour for private discussion with Maisky … it was impossible to discern what fruits were being yielded by this attempt to bring British leaders into close consultation with the Russians’; Rothenstein, Brave Day, p. 31.

Azcárate and his wife were also present. Mme Azcárate said to me: ‘This will probably be our last official appearance in London. You know, of course, that the British are going to recognize Franco any day now. I am very glad that our last appearance should be at your embassy and at such an important dinner.’

Bidding farewell, Halifax mentioned in passing: ‘What a sad figure is Monsieur Azcárate! Such a nice man… And such grave circumstances!’