I spoke to Dalton about the Selenga and Vladimir Mayakovsky. He said the British government had already decided on their release, but technical execution of the decision would take a little bit more time (the matter must be coordinated with the French). Then I handed him a complaint concerning the arrest in Port Victoria, Canada, of the cargo carried by the Norwegian steamer Norbryn, which was bound for Vladivostok. Dalton promised to investigate the case urgently.

We then turned to more general subjects. Dalton shared many interesting details about the change of government. Then he assured me that the new government has drawn a line under the Anglo-Soviet relations of the past and wants to establish genuinely friendly relations with the Soviet Union. In particular, all Halifax’s memorandums concerning the trade negotiations will be relegated to the archives. The road ahead is clear. Dalton hopes that Cripps, whom the British government is sending to Moscow, will be able to conclude a trade agreement or at least pave the way for one.

Nice words. We’ll see where they take us.