Stalin Digital Archive
Yale University Press
Yale University Press
  • Search
  • Browse
  • My SDA
    • Private Groups
    • Personal Folders
    • Private Group Folders
  • Resources
    • Stalin Digital Archive
    • User Guide
    • FAQ
    • Editor Projects
    • Private Group Tutorials
    • Institutions & Associations
    • Further Reading
  • About SDA
    • Overview & Donors
    • Collections
    • Editorial Board
    • Transliteration Policy
    • Publishers
    • News & Updates
RegisterLog In
Select documents to open Close
CancelOk

Login Required

A personal account is required to access tags, annotations, bookmarks, and all of the other features associated with the MySDA.

Username: (email address)
Password:
Forgot password?
Log In
  • Purchase a subscription
  • Renew your subscription
  • Need help? Contact us
Not registered?
Register for your MySDA account
Login
Cancel

Your subscription has expired.

Click here to renew your subscription

Once your subscription is renewed, you will receive a new activation code that must be entered before you can log in again

Close
Next Document > < Previous DocumentReturn4 January
You must login to do that
Cancel
You must login to do that
Cancel
You must login to do that
Cancel
You must login to do that
Cancel
Save to my libraryClose
4 January
-or-
Cancel Save
Print Close
(Max. 10 Pages at a time)


By checking this box, I agree to all terms and conditions governing print and/or download of material from this archive.
CancelPrint
Export Annotation Close
CancelExport
Annotation Close
Cancel
Export Citation Close
CancelExport
Citation Close
Cancel
Close
CancelOk
Report Close
Please provide the text of your complaint for the selected annotation


CancelReport
/ -1
Stalin Digital Archive
Back to Search
Stalin digital archive
Back to Search
Table of Contents
The Complete Maisky Diaries: Volume 3
  • 10 January
  • 19 January
  • 20 January
  • 22 January
  • 26 January
  • 27 January
  • 30 January
  • 3 February
  • 4 February
  • 6 February
  • 11 February
  • 13 February
  • 14 February
  • 15 February
  • 17 February
  • 18 February
  • 20 February
  • 23 February
  • 25 February
  • 27 February
  • 28 February
  • 2 March
  • 7 March
  • 8 March
  • 9 March
  • 12 March
  • 14 March
  • 15 March
  • 16 March
  • 17 March
  • 19 March
  • 20 March
  • 22 March
  • 23 March
  • 25 March
  • 29 March
  • 31 March
  • 1 April
  • 6 April
  • 11 April
  • 12 April
  • 14 April
  • 15 April
  • 16 April
  • 17 April
  • 18 April
  • 28 April
  • 29 April
  • 30 April
  • 1 May
  • 2 May
  • 3 May
  • 4 May
  • 6 May
  • 9 May
  • 11 May
  • 15 May
  • 16 May
  • 17 May
  • 18 May
  • 19 May
  • 21 May
  • 22 May
  • 23 May
  • 25 May
  • 26 May
  • 27 May
  • 28 May
  • 30 May
  • 3 June
  • 8 June
  • 11 June
  • 12 June
  • 16 June
  • 17 June
  • 22 June
  • 23 June
  • 25 June
  • 28 June
  • 29 June
  • 30 June
  • 1 July
  • 2 July
  • 4 July
  • 5 July
  • 6 July
  • 7 July
  • 12 July
  • 13 July
  • 14 July
  • 15 July
  • 18 July
  • 22 July
  • 25 July
  • 28 July
  • 30 July
  • 4 August
  • 5 August
  • 6 August
  • 11 August
  • 20 August
  • 21 August
  • 22 August
  • 23 August
  • 24 August
  • 26 August
  • 28 August
  • 29 August
  • 30 August
  • 31 August
  • 1 September
  • 2 September
  • 3 September
  • 4 September
  • 2 September
  • 7 September
  • 8 September
  • 9 September
  • 12 September
  • 13 September
  • 14 September
  • 15 September
  • 17 September
  • 19 September
  • 20 September
  • 21 September
  • 22 September
  • 23 September
  • 27 September
  • 28 September
  • 29 September
  • 3 October
  • 4 October
  • 6 October
  • 7 October
  • 11 October
  • 12 October
  • 13 October
  • 14 October
  • 16 October
  • 17 October
  • 19 October
  • 21 October
  • 24 October
  • 26 October
  • 27 October
  • 28 October
  • 30 October
  • 31 October
  • 2 November
  • 3 November
  • 7 November
  • 9 November
  • 10 November
  • 13 November
  • 14 November
  • 15 November
  • 16 November
  • 18 November
  • 20 November
  • 21 November
  • 22 November
  • 27 November
  • 28 November
  • 29 November
  • 1 December
  • 3 December
  • 5 December
  • 8 December
  • 12 December
  • 14 December
  • 15 December
  • 21 December
  • 23 December
  • 24 December
  • 25 December
  • 31 December
  • 2 January
  • 3 January
  • 4 January
  • 5 January
  • 7 January
  • 8 January
  • 11 January
  • 14 January
  • 15 January
  • 18 January
  • 19 January
  • 20 January
  • 21 January
  • 23 January
  • 25 January
  • 26 January
  • 27 January
  • 29 January
  • 30 January
  • 31 January
  • 2 February
  • 7 February
  • 8 February
  • 9 February
  • 10 February
  • 11 February
  • 15 February
  • 19 February
  • 21 February
  • 25 February
  • 8 March
  • 11 March
  • 12 March
  • 13 March
  • 16 March
  • 17 March
  • 18 March
  • Conversation with Butler on 18 March 1940
  • 19 March
  • 23 March
  • 27 March
  • Conversation with Halifax on 27 March 1940
  • 28 March
  • 29 March
  • 1 April
  • 2 April
  • 4 April
  • 5 April
  • 6 April
  • 8 April
  • 9 April
  • 10 April
  • 11 April
  • 12 April
  • 13 April
  • 15 April
  • 16 April
  • 17 April
  • 18 April
  • 22 April
  • 27 April
  • 28 April
  • 2 May
  • 4 May
  • 7 May
  • 8 May
  • 13 May
  • 14 May
  • 15 May
  • 17 May
  • 18 May
  • 19 May
  • 20 May
  • 21 May
  • 22 May
  • 23 May
  • 24 May
  • 25 May
  • 26 May
  • 28 May
  • 1 June
  • 4 June
  • 5 June
  • 6 June
  • 10 June
  • 11 June
  • 12 June
  • 14 June
  • 15 June
  • 16 June
  • 17 June
  • 18 June
  • 23 June
  • 25 June
  • 27 June
  • 28 June
  • 29 June
  • 30 June
  • 1 July
  • 2 July
  • 3 July
  • 4 July
  • 5 July
  • 6 July
  • 7 July
  • 8 July
  • 9 July
  • 10 July
  • 11 July
  • 12 July
  • 22 July
  • 23 July
  • 25 July
  • 26 July
  • 27 July
  • 28 July
  • 31 July
  • 5 August
  • 6 August
  • 7 August
  • 10 August
  • 14 August
  • 15 August
  • 17 August
  • 18 August
  • 20 August
  • 22 August
  • 30 August
  • 31 August
  • 1 September
  • 6 September
  • 7 September
  • 8 September
  • 9 September
  • 10 September
  • 13 September
  • 14 September
  • 16 September
  • 17 September
  • 4 October
  • 6 October
  • 9 October
  • 10 October
  • 12 October
  • 13 October
  • 20 October
  • 22 October
  • 2 November
  • 4 November
  • 5 November
  • 11 November
  • 12 November
  • 19 November
  • 30 November
  • 1 December
  • 2 December
  • 11 December
  • 12 December
  • 16 December
  • 19 December
  • 27 December
  • 28 December
  • 29 December
  • 30 December
< Previous document Next document >
© 2025
4 January
    • Export Citation
    • Export Annotation
View:

By Liakhovetsky, Ivan Mikhailovich (Maisky)

The Complete Maisky Diaries: Volume 2

Image view
  • Print
  • Save
  • Share
  • Cite
Translation Transcription
Translation
/ 2
  • Translation
  • Transcription
  • Print
  • Save
  • Share
  • Cite
4 January
On New Year’s Eve, Beaverbrook unexpectedly called me to extend his good wishes, and yesterday Agniya and I went to his place for lunch. There were only three of us, so the conversation was quite frank.
Beaverbrook, who has told me before that he sees no sense in the current war, is now most interested in the prospects for peace. He questioned me long and hard about my thoughts on the war, the situation in Germany, Soviet intentions, etc. and then set about expounding his ideas.
Beaverbrook is currently enthused by the Vatican’s reconciliation with the Quirinale (the pope’s visit to the Italian king,
King Victor Emmanuel III of Italy, 1900–46.
etc.), which, he believes, should greatly raise the prestige of the Italian government everywhere, especially in the United States, through the influence of the Catholic Church. Beaverbrook draws the following conclusions: Mussolini is still perched on the fence, but he already has one leg in the ‘Allies’’ camp as a result of the reconciliation. And yet, he has not broken with Hitler. Therefore, given Italy’s growing international prestige, Rome may become a good channel by which to probe the prospects for peace. The main question is whether Hitler is willing to agree to the conditions which the British government and British public opinion might deem acceptable. Beaverbrook does not have a clear answer to this.
What is the alignment of forces in the British ruling circles? The ‘big four’ (Chamberlain, Simon, Hoare and Halifax) are ready to conclude peace without crushing Germany, if an acceptable basis is found. Churchill, who relies on the Labour–Liberal sector and certain Conservative circles, believes that, before discussing peace, Germany must be crushed.
What are the prospects? Beaverbrook believes that if Hitler were to agree to the minimal acceptable conditions, including Poland and Czechoslovakia – conditions, in other words, which could be presented to the nation as a fulfilment, albeit not absolute, of the ‘war aims’ – the ‘big four’ would immediately conclude a peace. Should Hitler not agree, Churchill will triumph and the war will continue.
Beaverbrook told me that in France and in some British circles the following conclusion is being reached with increasing frequency: since a ‘stalemate’ has


Page 716

occurred on the western front, a more ‘mobile’ front should be sought to end the war as soon as possible. Previously, before the events in Finland, it was assumed that this second front would be in the Balkans. Now, thoughts have turned to Scandinavia. I asked Beaverbrook: what position would England take should Scandinavia be drawn into the war? Beaverbrook answered without hesitation: ‘We would most certainly fight for Scandinavia, especially for Norway.’
Beaverbrook is extremely worried about Anglo-Soviet relations. He himself is definitely against a rupture, and certainly against waging war with the USSR. He thinks therefore that the British can ‘applaud Finnish bravery’, but should not send arms and ammunition to Finland. Unfortunately, there are notable elements among the general public and in government who favour meddling in Finnish affairs, even at the risk of provoking the USSR to break off relations. Beaverbrook is anxiously awaiting the outcome of the debate on ‘the Russian question’ in the US Congress. If the USA severs diplomatic relations with the USSR, the British advocates of a ‘resolute policy’ on the Finnish question will gain the upper hand. But Beaverbrook hopes that the USA will not go so far. He is also consoled by Churchill’s support for a ‘cautious’ line regarding the Soviet Union. This is important because Churchill’s influence at the present time is great. As a result, Beaverbrook has not yet lost hope that a rupture in Anglo-Soviet relations may still be avoided, but he deems the situation dangerous.
[Beaverbrook’s attitude was an exception. Maisky had become a pariah in London. He found most doors bolted, while his invitations were politely turned down. Formerly a frequent visitor, Harold Nicolson steered clear of the embassy: ‘Spending the Christmas holidays here and trying to get through a little work.’ Samuel Hoare excused himself, explaining that, since the outbreak of war, the Cabinet was sitting so late that he ‘reluctantly had to adopt the practice of not lunching out at all’, while Cadogan was ‘engaged for lunch on Thursday. As regards Friday – having been on duty here all through the Christmas “holiday”, I had arranged to go away on that day for 10 days or so.’
RAN f.1702 op.4 d.1495 l.4 d.1657 l.10 & d.1363 l.3, 5 and 8 Jan. 1940.
Bilainkin, the journalist for whom the doors of the embassy were always open, noted in his diary ‘the deep lines’ under Maisky’s eyes ‘when the clamour rose’ for a declaration of war against the Soviet Union: ‘As I walked away, along the icy cold and ice-covered “Millionaires’ Row”, I thought of its principal tenant, who had so eagerly striven for success in his mission, had nearly won it in the middle of last year, and then watched triumph being taken from his grasp.’
Bilainkin, Diary of a Diplomatic Correspondent, 7 Feb. 1940, pp. 9, 21.
Maisky barely recovered his social standing after the conclusion of the Winter War. As late as May, an invitation for Eden and his wife to come to lunch at the embassy ‘quite privately’ drew the lukewarm response ‘I will, if I may, let you know later about my wife as she is away in the country at present.’
RAN f.1702 op.4 d.940 l.13 & d.1357 l.10, 3 and 6 May 1940.
Dalton likewise describes in his diary a luncheon he attended on his own at the embassy, as his wife ‘would sooner be found dead than in [Maisky’s] Embassy’. He was greeted by MADBme Maisky, ‘advancing upon me with rather too red lips, says she is so sorry that my wife is in the country. She adds, rather malapropos, “So many people’s wives seem to be in the country just now.” I say,


Page 717

“Yes, it is such beautiful weather isn’t it.”’
See for instance a sample of letters from Nicolson, Gwilym Lloyd George and Vernon Bartlett in RAN f.1702 op.4 d.1495 l.5 d.993 l.1 & d.1225 l.5, 12 and 29 March 1940; Pimlott, Political Diary of Hugh Dalton, 15 March 1940, pp. 321–2.
Relations with the court fared no better. ‘The King and Queen at a B.P. [Buckingham Palace] dinner,’ Maisky told the Webbs, ‘had been markedly rude to them; in spite of the fact that MADBme Maisky was “doyenne” the Queen had not spoken to her after dinner … On retiring the King and Queen had passed by Maiskys, without recognition.’
Webb, diary, 12 April 1940, p. 6863.
]
Transcription
/ 0
  • Translation
  • Transcription
  • Print
  • Save
  • Share
  • Cite
           
Document Details
Document Title4 January
AuthorLiakhovetsky, Ivan Mikhailovich (Maisky)
RecipientN/A
RepositoryN/A
ID #N/A
DescriptionN/A
Date1940 Jan 4
AOC VolumeThe Complete Maisky Diaries: Volume 2
Tags
Annotations
Bookmarks

  • Yale
  • Terms & Conditions
    |
  • Privacy Policy & Data Protection
    |
  • Contact
    |
  • Accesssibility
    |
  • Copyright 2018 Yale University
  • Connect with us:
  • Yale
  • Yale