Attlee took fright and hastened to answer: ‘No, no! You’ve misunderstood me.’

He then changed tack, arguing that it was not a matter of principle, but of compensation: British citizens had investments in the Baltic States which they will now lose. If the matter of compensation is settled, there will be no complications. I objected, arguing that compensations and recognition of the changes are two quite different things and should not be confused. Moreover, the losses of British citizens are yet to be proved. Here Attlee flew into a rage and set about defending British investments like a lion. He did so far more robustly than Butler or Leith-Ross would have done.

I finally lost my patience and noted rather sharply: ‘Since when have you started taking the interests of the City so close to heart?’

Attlee was somewhat embarrassed and replied: ‘I’d like to see what you would do in such a situation.’

‘Such a situation simply could not befall us,’ I parried, before concluding: ‘How the British government acts is a matter for you to decide. I, at any rate, have warned you in advance and my conscience is clear. If complications arise, you’ll have only yourselves to blame.’