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World War II: Soviet envoy's book reveals missed opportunities to pre-empt Hitler's attack on the Soviet Union World War II: Soviet envoy's book reveals missed opportunities to pre-empt Hitler's attack on the Soviet Union
(about 2 hours later)
Lord Beaverbrook, the founder of the Daily Express, claimed during the war that there was no politician in Britain who was a better friend to the USSR than he. But the public thought that honour belonged to the Labour MP Stafford Cripps, whom Churchill had appointed ambassador to Moscow in 1940, and who returned in February 1942 claiming credit for bringing the USSR into the war.Lord Beaverbrook, the founder of the Daily Express, claimed during the war that there was no politician in Britain who was a better friend to the USSR than he. But the public thought that honour belonged to the Labour MP Stafford Cripps, whom Churchill had appointed ambassador to Moscow in 1940, and who returned in February 1942 claiming credit for bringing the USSR into the war.
When Cripps joined the War Cabinet, Beaverbrook resigned. It infuriated the vain press baron that anyone should think the swap was a gain for the Soviet Union, so the following week, he hosted a dinner party at his home, Cherkley Court, near Leatherhead in Surrey.When Cripps joined the War Cabinet, Beaverbrook resigned. It infuriated the vain press baron that anyone should think the swap was a gain for the Soviet Union, so the following week, he hosted a dinner party at his home, Cherkley Court, near Leatherhead in Surrey.
Guests included the US ambassador, Averell Harriman, and his lover and future wife, Pamela Churchill, the Prime Minister’s daughter-in-law; the 29-year-old editor of the Beaverbrook-owned Evening Standard, Michael Foot; and Ivan Maisky, the Soviet ambassador.Guests included the US ambassador, Averell Harriman, and his lover and future wife, Pamela Churchill, the Prime Minister’s daughter-in-law; the 29-year-old editor of the Beaverbrook-owned Evening Standard, Michael Foot; and Ivan Maisky, the Soviet ambassador.
As they assembled in Beaverbrook’s study before dinner, Maisky was gratified to see three portraits adorning the mantelpiece – of King George, Franklin Roosevelt and Joseph Stalin. He noted, though, that Beaverbrook was very agitated and keen to explain.As they assembled in Beaverbrook’s study before dinner, Maisky was gratified to see three portraits adorning the mantelpiece – of King George, Franklin Roosevelt and Joseph Stalin. He noted, though, that Beaverbrook was very agitated and keen to explain.
Two days later, Beaverbrook turned up at the Soviet embassy to protest his “utmost support for the USSR”. He understood why Stalin resented that the Red Army was bearing the full force of the war in Europe while the British and American efforts were directed at the far east and north Africa. “If there is anything Stalin wants, Beaverbrook is always at his disposal,” Maisky noted.Two days later, Beaverbrook turned up at the Soviet embassy to protest his “utmost support for the USSR”. He understood why Stalin resented that the Red Army was bearing the full force of the war in Europe while the British and American efforts were directed at the far east and north Africa. “If there is anything Stalin wants, Beaverbrook is always at his disposal,” Maisky noted.
This unlikely liaison between an empire-loving, right-wing press baron and a left-wing intellectual from a small town in Russia has come to light through an extraordinary document left behind by an extraordinary man.This unlikely liaison between an empire-loving, right-wing press baron and a left-wing intellectual from a small town in Russia has come to light through an extraordinary document left behind by an extraordinary man.
Maisky stands beneath a painting of Stalin at the Russian embassy in London in 1941Maisky stands beneath a painting of Stalin at the Russian embassy in London in 1941
No one has ever done more to spread goodwill towards Russia through the British establishment than Ivan Maisky, who was Soviet ambassador to the Court of St James from 1932 to 1943.No one has ever done more to spread goodwill towards Russia through the British establishment than Ivan Maisky, who was Soviet ambassador to the Court of St James from 1932 to 1943.
Speaking flawless English, he glided through the drawing rooms of London’s elite, impressing everyone with his acute intelligence and adroit public relations patter.Speaking flawless English, he glided through the drawing rooms of London’s elite, impressing everyone with his acute intelligence and adroit public relations patter.
Merely to survive so long in so exposed a job was unique. During the terrible purges of the late 1930s, almost every Soviet ambassador around the world was recalled and shot for having suspicious contacts with foreigners. That fate befell several of Maisky’s staff.Merely to survive so long in so exposed a job was unique. During the terrible purges of the late 1930s, almost every Soviet ambassador around the world was recalled and shot for having suspicious contacts with foreigners. That fate befell several of Maisky’s staff.
Maisky was not only cosmopolitan, he was a Jew – which in itself was enough to draw Stalin’s suspicion – and he was not a communist.Maisky was not only cosmopolitan, he was a Jew – which in itself was enough to draw Stalin’s suspicion – and he was not a communist.
His politics would have fitted comfortably in the Fabian wing of the Labour Party: the Fabian luminaries Beatrice Webb, George Bernard Shaw and others were among Maisky’s glittering circle of contacts.His politics would have fitted comfortably in the Fabian wing of the Labour Party: the Fabian luminaries Beatrice Webb, George Bernard Shaw and others were among Maisky’s glittering circle of contacts.
While other social democrats had stayed neutral during the Russian civil war, Maisky had actively joined the wrong side. He was almost 40 when he finally decided to pay obeisance to the Bolshevik regime rather than spend the rest of his life in exile.While other social democrats had stayed neutral during the Russian civil war, Maisky had actively joined the wrong side. He was almost 40 when he finally decided to pay obeisance to the Bolshevik regime rather than spend the rest of his life in exile.
We now know that for years he was also doing something extremely dangerous. He was keeping a private diary – not a self-improving “I must be a better communist” sort of diary, but a frank and beautifully written day-by-day account of his London years.We now know that for years he was also doing something extremely dangerous. He was keeping a private diary – not a self-improving “I must be a better communist” sort of diary, but a frank and beautifully written day-by-day account of his London years.
Edited extracts of the diary, uncovered in an archive by an Oxford University historian, Gabriel Gorodetsky, will be published in a single 560-page volume later this month. The historian Professor Paul Kennedy has called it “perhaps the greatest political diary of the 20th century”.Edited extracts of the diary, uncovered in an archive by an Oxford University historian, Gabriel Gorodetsky, will be published in a single 560-page volume later this month. The historian Professor Paul Kennedy has called it “perhaps the greatest political diary of the 20th century”.
It is full of delightful vignettes, such a description of the day all London ambassadors were summoned to Buckingham Palace to present their credentials to the newly crowned King George VI It is full of delightful vignettes, such a description of the day all London ambassadors were summoned to Buckingham Palace to present their credentials to the newly crowned King George VI.
. Maisky gives a speech to workers at a tank factory, England, September 22nd 1941 (Getty) Churchill and Maisky (centre) share a toast at a luncheon at the Soviet embassy in London in August 1941
Maisky was judged to be a “good boy” who behaved properly in the royal presence, unlike Hitler’s man Joachim von Ribbentrop, who greeted the King with a Nazi salute.Maisky was judged to be a “good boy” who behaved properly in the royal presence, unlike Hitler’s man Joachim von Ribbentrop, who greeted the King with a Nazi salute.
Maisky also noted the presence of two small princesses, Elizabeth and Margaret, dressed in pink, and very excited – “They began to giggle, and then to misbehave, to the considerable embarrassment of the queen.”Maisky also noted the presence of two small princesses, Elizabeth and Margaret, dressed in pink, and very excited – “They began to giggle, and then to misbehave, to the considerable embarrassment of the queen.”
Amid delightful anecdotes like that, there is a story of a vast missed opportunity. As Hitler turned his menacing eyes on Czechoslovakia, Maisky and his boss in Moscow, Maxim Litvinov, struggled to get Britain, France and the USSR to take effective joint action to protect eastern Europe’s only functioning democracy.Amid delightful anecdotes like that, there is a story of a vast missed opportunity. As Hitler turned his menacing eyes on Czechoslovakia, Maisky and his boss in Moscow, Maxim Litvinov, struggled to get Britain, France and the USSR to take effective joint action to protect eastern Europe’s only functioning democracy.
In pursuit of this aim, Maisky had no compunction about dealing with oppositionists in London, nor they with him. David Lloyd George was one of the first big names to befriend Maisky and pour out his exasperation with the “mediocrities” who made up Stanley Baldwin’s Government.In pursuit of this aim, Maisky had no compunction about dealing with oppositionists in London, nor they with him. David Lloyd George was one of the first big names to befriend Maisky and pour out his exasperation with the “mediocrities” who made up Stanley Baldwin’s Government.
In November 1937, Maisky was invited to a banquet in honour of the King of Belgium, and was in a corner, being ignored, when Winston Churchill spotted him.In November 1937, Maisky was invited to a banquet in honour of the King of Belgium, and was in a corner, being ignored, when Winston Churchill spotted him.
“In the presence of the two kings, Churchill crossed the hall, came up to me and shook me firmly by the hand. Then we entered into an animated and extended conversation,” he wrote.“In the presence of the two kings, Churchill crossed the hall, came up to me and shook me firmly by the hand. Then we entered into an animated and extended conversation,” he wrote.
Their conversation was interrupted by King George, who apparently assumed that Churchill would want to be rescued from such compromising company. “I stepped aside and waited to see what would happen next. Churchill finished his conversation with George and returned to me to continue our interrupted conversation. The gilded aristocrats were well-nigh shocked.”Their conversation was interrupted by King George, who apparently assumed that Churchill would want to be rescued from such compromising company. “I stepped aside and waited to see what would happen next. Churchill finished his conversation with George and returned to me to continue our interrupted conversation. The gilded aristocrats were well-nigh shocked.”
The following September, Churchill invited Maisky to a dinner to suggest a scheme for averting war. There had to be a collective note signed jointly by the British, French and Soviet governments that would scare Hitler out of his expansion plans, and would be the beginning of a new alliance, the London-Paris-Moscow axis.The following September, Churchill invited Maisky to a dinner to suggest a scheme for averting war. There had to be a collective note signed jointly by the British, French and Soviet governments that would scare Hitler out of his expansion plans, and would be the beginning of a new alliance, the London-Paris-Moscow axis.
Churchill was desperately concerned that Stalin was wiping out the high command of the Red Army, as reports of arrest and executions filled the Soviet press. He was indeed having the Red Army’s finest commanders slaughtered, but Maisky dishonestly remarked: “If a disloyal general is replaced by an honest and reliable general, is this weakening or strengthening an army?” Churchill was placated.Churchill was desperately concerned that Stalin was wiping out the high command of the Red Army, as reports of arrest and executions filled the Soviet press. He was indeed having the Red Army’s finest commanders slaughtered, but Maisky dishonestly remarked: “If a disloyal general is replaced by an honest and reliable general, is this weakening or strengthening an army?” Churchill was placated.
But Churchill, of course, was a voice in the wilderness at a time when Neville Chamberlain’s policy of appeasement was popular both with the public and the British political establishment.But Churchill, of course, was a voice in the wilderness at a time when Neville Chamberlain’s policy of appeasement was popular both with the public and the British political establishment.
Maisky sat through a House of Lords debate and recorded: “Never in my life have I seen so reactionary a gathering. The mould of the ages lies visibly upon it.”Maisky sat through a House of Lords debate and recorded: “Never in my life have I seen so reactionary a gathering. The mould of the ages lies visibly upon it.”
After Chamberlain had returned from Munich promising “peace in our time”, Maisky’s boss, Litvinov, was sacked, as a prelude to the infamous Stalin-Hitler Pact.After Chamberlain had returned from Munich promising “peace in our time”, Maisky’s boss, Litvinov, was sacked, as a prelude to the infamous Stalin-Hitler Pact.
Maisky, surprisingly, stayed in post but was cut adrift. His masters in the Kremlin would not tell him anything useful, and sent a secret policeman, posing as a diplomat, to keep a close watch on him.Maisky, surprisingly, stayed in post but was cut adrift. His masters in the Kremlin would not tell him anything useful, and sent a secret policeman, posing as a diplomat, to keep a close watch on him.
Churchill was sure that Germany was going to invade the USSR, after which the Kremlin would come begging for the west’s friendship, so there was no point in courting them.Churchill was sure that Germany was going to invade the USSR, after which the Kremlin would come begging for the west’s friendship, so there was no point in courting them.
Maisky later claimed in his published memoirs that he sent Stalin a timely warning of a German invasion, but was ignored. His diary tells a different story. He was bemused by the number of people in London who shared Churchill’s “strange and nonsensical” belief that Hitler was preparing for war in the east. Maisky wondered what gave them this idea, knowing nothing of the now celebrated Bletchley Park spy centre.Maisky later claimed in his published memoirs that he sent Stalin a timely warning of a German invasion, but was ignored. His diary tells a different story. He was bemused by the number of people in London who shared Churchill’s “strange and nonsensical” belief that Hitler was preparing for war in the east. Maisky wondered what gave them this idea, knowing nothing of the now celebrated Bletchley Park spy centre.
On 18 June 1941, Stafford Cripps called in at the Soviet embassy to warn that 147 German divisions had gathered on the Soviet border. “I set about disproving this,” Maisky wrote. “To my mind, Hitler is not yet ready for suicide.”On 18 June 1941, Stafford Cripps called in at the Soviet embassy to warn that 147 German divisions had gathered on the Soviet border. “I set about disproving this,” Maisky wrote. “To my mind, Hitler is not yet ready for suicide.”
Three days later, he took time off to enjoy the summer sunshine, and lay on the grass pondering whether such warnings might be true, but convinced himself it was British scare talk. The German army crossed the Soviet border early the next day.Three days later, he took time off to enjoy the summer sunshine, and lay on the grass pondering whether such warnings might be true, but convinced himself it was British scare talk. The German army crossed the Soviet border early the next day.
For the next two years, he was caught between Stalin’s angry demands that the allies open up a second front in northern France, and Churchill’s sometimes angry reaction.For the next two years, he was caught between Stalin’s angry demands that the allies open up a second front in northern France, and Churchill’s sometimes angry reaction.
Nonetheless, the diaries suggest he was enjoying himself. He was seeing Churchill regularly. “For all his seriousness, Churchill is a rather amusing man,” he noted. The entries for the early part of 1943 are full of instance of Churchill joking or bursting into laughter.Nonetheless, the diaries suggest he was enjoying himself. He was seeing Churchill regularly. “For all his seriousness, Churchill is a rather amusing man,” he noted. The entries for the early part of 1943 are full of instance of Churchill joking or bursting into laughter.
But just as their friendship was blossoming, Maisky was ordered to pack up and return to his homeland. It has always been assumed that his recall was an expression of Stalin’s displeasure at the delay in staging the Normandy landings. Gorodetsky suggests that it was actually because the Foreign Minister, Vyacheslav Molotov, did not approve of all this socialising.But just as their friendship was blossoming, Maisky was ordered to pack up and return to his homeland. It has always been assumed that his recall was an expression of Stalin’s displeasure at the delay in staging the Normandy landings. Gorodetsky suggests that it was actually because the Foreign Minister, Vyacheslav Molotov, did not approve of all this socialising.
After the creation of the state of Israel, the Kremlin became gripped by anti-Semitic mania. Maisky was almost 70 when the police came for him, in the month of the infamous Doctors’ Plot. He was interrogated 36 times, but luckily he had been in police hands less than three weeks when Stalin died. It was another two years before he was released, but at least he escaped execution, and lived to be 91.After the creation of the state of Israel, the Kremlin became gripped by anti-Semitic mania. Maisky was almost 70 when the police came for him, in the month of the infamous Doctors’ Plot. He was interrogated 36 times, but luckily he had been in police hands less than three weeks when Stalin died. It was another two years before he was released, but at least he escaped execution, and lived to be 91.
‘The Maisky Diaries, Red Ambassador to the Court of St James’s 1932-1943’ by Gabriel Gorodetsky, Yale University Press £25, is  published on 24 September‘The Maisky Diaries, Red Ambassador to the Court of St James’s 1932-1943’ by Gabriel Gorodetsky, Yale University Press £25, is  published on 24 September