Transgressions: June, 1940
June 1, 1940, Saturday
Regent’s Park is deserted.? Without its iron railings it is much improved:? an un-mown field spotted with mauve pansies and pale pink lupins.?
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Lunched with Jack at the Travellers.? “Mountbatten is seen now and then with one sailor or another.? Hence the nom de guerre ‘Mountbottom’.”
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Sir Kenneth Clark, who came and talked to us during lunch, is trying to arrange for the pictures in the National Gallery and Royal collections to be sent to Canada.? Jack said that Halifax will not let him do it, as he is afraid that it will be taken as a Governmental anticipation of defeat.
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Nadine.? “We have a new master, or, rather, an old, formerly distant master has come closer.”? She explained that Chamberlain as Lord President of the Council is therefore now head of the secret services.? “This puts us into a peculiar position, as it is not clear that he can be trusted with the results of the labours of his servants.”
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The newspapers console themselves about the loss of the BEF at Dunkirk, as the mere survival of those men, stripped of their arms and equipment, would not have been less of a defeat.?
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Jack:? “Italy’s entry into the war is now certain and will be a matter of days. I wonder if this is really the end of England?”
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Dined with Livia at Luigi’s, followed by an end of the world party at the Dorchester.? Chips Channon was seen at a bar with a magnum of Champagne at each elbow, daughters of dukes were dancing with the sons of Indian princes, government ministers were tete á tete with sailors.
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Haxton has an article in what is now called the Journal of the Warburg and Courtauld Institute.
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June 2, 1949, Sunday
The President has assured the Commonwealth Prime Ministers that the USA will supply Great Britain with all needed aircraft.
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June 3, 1940, Monday
A Gifford séance:? “Your readers are unhappy.”?
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“I’m sorry to hear that.”
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“Your reports are too infrequent and hence too long.? Given the, ah, velocity of events, you are lagging badly.”
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“What should I do to improve my inadequate performance?”
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“Stop the damned impertinence for one thing.? You are to submit reports every Friday until further notice.”
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“Certainly.? Thank you.”
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“Get out of here.”
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June 4, 1940, Tuesday
The Germans have declared the end of all resistance at Dunkirk.
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June 5, 1940, Wednesday
Halifax’s speech in Parliament about Dunkirk.? About 30,000 men have been brought safely back.
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June 7, 1940, Friday
My first report on the new schedule.? Quite enough to fill it.?
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“United States Diplomatic Views of the Present Situation:
“American diplomatic reporting continues to keep Washington appraised of events in France, of the views of foreign governments and well-informed individuals about the war, and about other, less dramatic matters, such as trade.? Certain of the American representatives are calling for the United States to enter the war immediately, which is impossible on both military grounds—the Fleet of the United States is at Hawaii, the Army is not numerous—and impossible on political grounds, as those opposed to any American participation in another European War are powerful and include many in the President’s own party.”
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Followed by details concerning Bullitt’s reports. (He runs something like a messenger service between the right wing of the French government and Washington.)?
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“Bullitt has sent a cable marked “Personal for the President” concerning a meeting he had with Marshal Pétain during which Pétain told him that the French were outnumbered in the air and in tanks and the Germans would soon surround Paris.? He claimed that the British were refusing to send either Army or Air reinforcements, planning to create a British Fascist government, which would settle with the Germans after the French defeat.? He said that unless the British immediately sent reinforcements to France, France would come to terms with Germany.? (That is, he actually will do what he blames the British for planning.)?? In a cable to Hull, Bullitt said that he had spoken separately with Reynaud, who said much the same thing about the refusal of the British to send their pursuit planes into battle.? Reynaud intends to have General de Gaulle, who two weeks ago was a Colonel, run the Ministry of War.? Bullitt agrees with the French that the British refusal to send their air force to France means that they intend to conserve their forces to be in a stronger position “when Mosley takes over the government and comes to terms with Hitler”. ?It should be recalled that, as it happens, the French are outnumbered in the air on the battlefield because they have sent most of their aircraft to North Africa.
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“Ambassador Kennedy has reported that there is another shipload of American citizens wishing to leave the United Kingdom and has asked permission to use the loan authorization of $20,000, which came too late for the sailing of the S. S. President Roosevelt, for the next ship.? Hull immediately replied that the S. S. Washington would stop at Galway en route from Lisbon and that the loan authorization could be used for passage on that ship.
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“A senior Finnish official has said that the German High Command is at work on plans for an attack on Russia, to take place as soon as the Western Powers are defeated.? On the other hand, he believes that if the Allies can continue the war for two or three more months Germany will collapse.? The United States Chargé in Iran believes there will be a German-Soviet alliance in Iran, seen locally as to be followed by a German attack on the Soviet Union after the cessation of hostilities in the West.
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“The United States Chargé in the Soviet Union’s appraisal of current intentions of Soviet policy is that Stalin wishes to avoid a major war and is deploying forces in the Baltic as a defense against possible German moves and in the south as a defense against possible attacks by Great Britain and France.? Conversations with officials in the German Embassy in Moscow indicate that the Soviet Union may soon invade the Baltic States and possibly Bessarabia.”
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June 8, 1940, Saturday
Fiona:? “Cripps has finally begun the negotiations in Moscow.”
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“Trade?”
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“No.? Preparations for a British government-in-exile there, if Halifax reaches an arrangement with the Germans.”
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“With Sir Stafford as Prime Minister-in-exile?”
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“Some such title.”
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June 10, 1940, Monday
There was a big rainstorm last night.
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Mussolini has declared war.? President Roosevelt’s speech broadcast late last night expressed sympathy with Britain and France as against Germany and Italy, then mentioned Italy’s “stab in the back.”
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June 11, 1940, Tuesday
Nadine:? “Much drama yesterday.? The Director General of MI5 and his Deputy have been dismissed.? Very good, but why now, rather than a month or year ago?”? She says that the new director of counterintelligence, Guy Liddell, is good enough:? “Not as good as the other Guy, but less prone to drama.”
Nadine says that among her senior (“titled”) colleagues there is generally less dislike for the Germans than for the Americans.? She said that Cadogan has had a conversation with Hess, in which Hess proposed that Germany and Britain would reach a compromise on world-wide policy based on the status quo.
“Meaning?”
“Germany would drop its claims to its former colonies, and would acknowledge British hegemony at sea. In return, Britain would acknowledge continental Europe as a German sphere of interest. Britain would not receive any reinforcements from the United States.
Germany would withdraw from France, but occupy French North Africa and, of course, Poland, Denmark, the Netherlands, Belgium and Serbia.? Germany would concede Britain's position in the eastern Mediterranean, the Middle East, Ethiopia and the Red Sea.”
“Rather sweeping.? What did Cadogan say?”
“Won’t tell.”
June 12, 1940, Wednesday
The early morning news began with the announcement that Malta has been bombed.
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June 13, 1940, Thursday
There is no petrol at the pumps.? It is being saved for The Invasion.
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Paris has been declared an open city, meaning that the French Army has decided not to defend it.?
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“Oh?? Had they thought to defend it?? Against the Germans, I mean.? They are more accustomed to defending it against the workers, aren’t they?”? Fiona.
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“General Weygand has told the French cabinet that the Communists have seized Paris and installed Jacques Duclos in the Elysée Palace.”
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“If only that were true, dear.? What trash have you been reading?”
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June 14, 1940, Friday
The Germans have Paris.? The French government has gone to Bordeaux.
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The BBC is warning against travel to the coast-strip.
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Dinner with Livia at the Apéritif, as an apéritif, as it were.
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June 15, 1940, Saturday
Dahlias are being put out in the Park.
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The French army seems to have disintegrated, rather like the German army in the autumn of 1918. The Red Army is occupying the Baltic states.
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The few men coming back from Dunkirk say that the line of the Albert Canal could have been held if the Belgians had done their part.? They had failed to blow up the bridges.? “They cannot have failed if they had not tried.”? Lord Cecil.
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领英推荐
Livia and I went to see The Tempest at the Old Vic.? Gielgud as Prospero, Marius Goring as Ariel and Jack Hawkins as Caliban? (the latter two excellent, the first not), Peggy Ashcroft as Miranda, making a good job of it, even though she is a bit old for the part.? The stalls were practically empty, but the gallery was full and enthusiastic.
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June 16, 1940, Sunday
Pétain has replaced Reynaud.? The French say they wish to come to terms with the Germans before, they say, the British beat them to it.
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The BBC has resumed referring to Herr Hitler and Signor Mussolini.
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The Maginot Line south of Saarbrücken has been penetrated on a broad front.? Two forts were stormed at Verdun, then the citadel and town taken.? Were they defended?
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June 17, 1940, Monday
1 o’clock news:? French surrender.
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“US Diplomatic Reports.”
“This week’s report has been overtaken by the news of the French surrender.? The week began with a warning from Kennedy that the USA will be unpopular in Great Britain “for years to come” if more aid is not forthcoming.? This is quite astonishing, coming from Kennedy.? He says that Halifax anticipates a German attack on England and that the British public demands an American declaration of war on Germany.? Kennedy believes that England is “appallingly weak.”?? He says that equipment sent from the USA to Great Britain would be wasted and should be kept to defend the USA.? On the other hand, he supports expediting shipments of arms to Ireland.? He says that rumors are being spread by RA Butler that Halifax might remove Churchill from the Admiralty in about ten days time and then make peace with Germany.?
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“Bullitt reported at the beginning of the week that Prime Minister Reynaud said that, although outnumbered, the French government would continue to fight in Paris, in Brittany and in North Africa. This was followed at the end of last week by a report from the United States Deputy Ambassador in France from Tours that the Germans had entered Paris, the French Army was in disorderly retreat, and the government was moving to Bordeaux.? Which was followed last night by the surrender and Kennedy’s report that the French gold has arrived in London.
“The United States Minister in Yugoslavia reports that Prince Paul believes that if Germany and Italy defeat the Allies they will then attack Russia.
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“Chungking has been heavily bombed by the Japanese.”
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June 18, 1940, Tuesday
A beautiful day; v. hot.
General de Gaulle, the former French War Minister, has made a stirring speech from Algiers, where he had fled, pursued by the Luftwaffe half way across the Mediterranean.?
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June 19, 1940, Wednesday
Low’s cartoon:? “Very Well, Alone.”
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There was a full moon last night.? The air-raids were bigger than hitherto; Cambridge was hit; a row of houses destroyed.
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June 20, 1940, Thursday
This morning’s 8 o’clock news told us that South Wales has been bombed.? There were also heavy air-raids last night on Southampton and Yorkshire.
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June 21, 1940, Friday
Halifax is touring the defences in East Anglia.
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Haxton, returned somehow from France, has joined MI5 at the suggestion of Victor Rothschild.? He is in “D Division,” military security.
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I happened to pass Gifford in a corridor this morning.? He favored me with some personal observations:?? “I cannot tell you the price I am paying for this service to my country . . . over-worked, insomnia, hives, piles, etc.”? He strode away before I could commiserate.
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Priestly’s Postscript tonight contrasted thinking in terms of “property” with thinking in terms of “community,” favoring the latter.? Haxton would call this Utopian Socialism.? It is most interesting that they let him broadcast such sentiments.
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June 22, 1940, Saturday
“US Diplomatic Reports.”
“Hull has instructed Murphy to tell Admiral Darlan that if the French fleet were to be surrendered to Germany, “the French Government will permanently lose the friendship and good-will of the Government of the United States”.? Murphy replied that the French Government has given assurances that the French Fleet would never be surrendered to Germany
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“The Irish government is requesting a few destroyers from the United States.? The request is not being well-received.? On the other hand, the President has assured the Australian Prime minister that “materiel and supplies will be sent from the United States in ever-increasing quantities and kinds” but there will be no military commitments as “only Congress can make such commitments.”? The Canadians are proposing what amounts to a merger of their war production efforts with those of the United States, a departure from their previous stance as a sort of subsidiary of Great Britain.? They fear that Great Britain will be captured by the Germans and that they will be next.? These items are indications of a tendency of nations that formerly looked to London to turn their gaze toward Washington.
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“The United States Minister in Latvia has written a general appraisal of the Baltic situation—he believes that the three countries will be more or less absorbed into the Soviet Union—and mentions that it is believed there that the Soviet Union’s policy had been premised on a stalemate on the Western Front and Moscow is now very anxious about the future, anticipating a German turn to the East, particularly in view of Hitler’s recent statement that he did not desire the destruction of the British Empire. In Rumanian official circles it is believed that Russia is preparing for an attack from Germany by shortening and straightening out its line of defense.? Hence the action in regard to the Baltic States.?
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“Kirk reports that Germany plans to transfer northern France to Belgium and to enlist Great Britain as a subordinate ally in a war against the Soviet Union in the spring of 1941.
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“In the Far East, various demands have been made on the United Kingdom by the Japanese General Staff (closing of the Hong Kong and Burma frontiers, etc.).? In response to a Japanese “request” supplies to China from French Indochina have been stopped.? Chungking continues to be heavily bombed by the Japanese.
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“Shipping news:? Much between Washington, Stockholm and London about attempts to bring the Norwegian Crown Princess and her son out of Sweden, where it is feared they may be kidnapped by the Germans.? The United States Minister in Portugal has asked Hull to send a ship at once to Lisbon to receive hundreds of American refugees awaiting repatriation.? The United States Ambassador in Spain has asked Hull to send a ship to Bilbao to receive Americans wishing to leave France, as the Portuguese government will allow none to enter Portugal until a ship is scheduled to arrive at Lisbon for them.? Hull is considering dispatching a ship to Lisbon, but not to Bilbao.
“The United States Consul General at Beirut reports that the French forces in Lebanon are rallying to de Gaulle, determined to join with the British in their war with Germany.”
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June 23, 1940, Sunday
The 9:00 news had the German Terms to the French.? Georges Mandel and a large number of French Parliamentarians have arrived in Oran on the Massilia from Bordeaux.? It is said that a thousand pilots have flown their planes across in the last few days and that the Toulon Fleet has joined the Mediterranean squadron at Mers-el-Kebir.
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Jack says that Hitler believes the British Empire should be preserved, as (“and I agree”), if Britain collapses, the US, not Germany, will take the Empire.? Hitler’s terms:? England out of Europe, colonies and mandates returned, reparations.? Negotiations are under way via Sweden.
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June 25, 1940, Tuesday
People in the pub are talking about how the French people had been let down, or perhaps betrayed, by Nazi-sympathising leaders, and that it is possible the same will happen here.
June 27, 1940, Thursday
Low’s Blimp:? “It’s not Britain’s war, really.? It’s just a war to help Hitler get what he needs to wipe Britain out.”
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The 1 o’clock news carries excited descriptions of air combat, followed by a record of Cortot playing Debussy’s Flaxen Haired Maiden.? In theory one prefers the latter, but in practice it is difficult not to be caught up in the former.
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There is talk of the coming famine.
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June 28, 1940, Friday
In Shaftesbury Avenue many shops are closed.? There are few people about, just some ANZACs in doorways with their girls.
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Jack says that Churchill (“quite on his own”) has written to Stalin suggesting an anti-German alliance.? “No response—not that he should have expected any.”
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Lord Cecil:? “He might remember that Churchill was promoting an anti-Soviet alliance a few weeks ago.”
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“None of this matters.? I think it probable that Hitler will invade Britain in the next fortnight.? We will fight, but lose.? Then it will be Stalin’s turn.”
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“Interesting that you think that we will fight.”
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June 29, 1940, Saturday
Air raids last night; more beautiful June weather this morning.? The Park is parched and filled with guns and trenches.
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Jack says that Halifax is leaning toward accepting Papal suggestions for an agreement between Britain and Germany.
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Surrealism at Zwemmers:? Henry Moore, Edward Burra, John Tunnard, John Banting and Paul Nash.
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June 30, 1940, Sunday
I awoke to find Livia staring at the ceiling.? She said:? “What is to become of us?”
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“You and me?”
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“No, I wasn’t thinking of you, dear.? Sorry.”
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“US Diplomatic Reports.”
“Murphy, in France, has written what may be the last of a dramatic series of cables narrating his journey with the retreating French Government, through Bordeaux to the vicinity of Clermont-Ferrand.? He wrote a number of times from Bordeaux emphasizing the bitterness of the French toward the British.? He is now going to Bilbao on his way to London.
“The fate of the French Fleet seems much less certain, most of it being in North Africa, but under the terms of the armistice it is to go to home ports.? The French merchant marine also has been recalled to home ports.? The French representative at the Armistice talks, General Huntziger, is said to be getting along well with the German representative, General Keitel, which is not very surprising.
“Matters are confused in North Africa.? De Gaulle appears to be in control in Algeria, but local French forces in Beirut, under orders from General Nogues in Morocco, have agreed to the armistice and an Italian commission is expected.? Individual French military, air and naval personnel are reported to be traveling to Palestine to join British units.? French and Belgian military and civil authorities in French Equatorial Africa and the Belgian Congo intend to continue the war, perhaps under the leadership of de Gaulle’s Algiers headquarters.
“Kirk in Berlin has reported that the Italian Ambassador there had visited him to say that the defeat of Great Britain was a matter of days and that this “catastrophe” could be averted by the British Government suing now for peace and that if this were done the peace terms would be acceptable to the current British Government.? The suggestion was that such an approach could be made by the King if not the British Government and implied that the United States should intervene to effect this.? Hull has ordered Kirk to ask the Italian Ambassador whether the Italian Government wishes the United States to intervene with the British Government concerning possible peace terms
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“The United States Embassy in the Soviet Union has been reporting a series of changes in the Soviet military—new titles, the introduction of saluting, etc.—indicating an effort to make the military more efficient and less politically influenced.? The United States Minister in Latvia reports rumors of a Soviet-German conflict, which, it is said, might be delayed if Germany decides on large colonial acquisitions.?
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“The United States Minister Resident in Iraq reports that he is apprehensive of a German or Soviet invasion of Iraq by air; that there are many German sympathizers in Iraq’s military and government; that influential members of Iraq’s government and public have been badly shaken by Allied defeats in France; that the Mufti of Jerusalem (who is in Iraq) is concerned that in the event of a German victory, Germany would use Palestine and the neighboring areas as a “dumping ground” for European Jews.”
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