29.7.39.

Apparently a few spots of rain in the night. Hot today. Mowed nettles. 6 eggs! (possibly something to do with the heat.) Sold 25 @ 2/6 score.
Total this week: 78

29.7.39.

Foreign & General
1. French general election to be postponed by decree for 2 years (ie. until 1942). Daily Telegraph [a]
2. Evidently° that fairly severe struggle is going on in Spain between Axis supporters (Suñer) & Traditionalists (esp. the generals, Yague etc.) & that there is likelihood of Franco remaining neutral in case of war. Manchester Guardian Weekly [b]; Daily Telegraph [c]
Social
1. Editor of Humanité who was tried in test case for printing various allegations about German espionage in France, acquitted. Order of arrest issued against another journalist for writing anti-Semitic article.[1] Daily Telegraph [d]
[1] Sentence of imprisonment [Orwell’s note].
Party Politics
1. Labour held Colne Valley constituency with increased majority. (Labour vote rose about 1000, Liberals & Cons. Each dropped 2-3 thousand.) Daily Telegraph [e]
2. According to figures given in MG., 3-500 people a week (Republicans) have been shot in Catalonia from May onwards. Manchester Guardian Weekly [f]
Miscellaneous
1. Guards trooped the colours in 3’s for the first time yesterday. Daily Telegraph [g]

[a] [b] [c] [d] [e] [f] [g]

28.7.39.

Foreign & General
1. Americans evidently deciding to denounce commercial treaty with Japan. Daily Telegraph [a]
Social
1. Gov.t apparently considering raising old age pension, no doubt with an eye to general election. Daily Telegraph [b]
2. Rich gold deposits said to have been found near Great Slave Lake in Canada. Daily Telegraph [c]
3. Smallholders & small farmers evidently being incommoded by conscription. First special tribunal under M[ilitary].T[raining]. act had 20 objectors to deal with, none apparently on political grounds. Smallholder; Daily Telegraph [d]
Party Politics
1. Fresh purge in Moscow, including Tarioff, Soviet Minister to Outer Mongolia. Daily Telegraph [e]
2. French handing over £8 millions of Spanish gold to Franco. Daily Telegraph [f]
3. P.P.U., N.C.L., Friends & Fellowship of Reconciliation were able to be represented at first tribunal under M.T. Act. Daily Telegraph [d]

[a] [b] [c] [d] [e] [f]

28.7.39

Some rain during last night. Hot. Nothing except weeding, mowing down thistles etc.
9 eggs.

27.7.39.

Hot. A very few drops of rain in the evening.
Red mite is bad in the henhouses, partly no doubt owing to one or two hot days. Dealt with them with boiling water & sulphur afterwards, hoping this will be effective. NB. That plumber’s blowlamp would be the best thing. Hen’s appetite is off as usual in hot weather. Planted out a few cos lettuce, otherwise nothing except weeding. The pumpkin has now taken hold but is still a small plant. The watersnail has laid some eggs. Don’t [know][1] whether these creatures are bisexual or not.
NB. That for storage purposes in tanks etc., 20 gallons[a] space will hold about 1 cwt of meal, or more of grain (say 1¼cwt.)
14 eggs (2 small – believe 1 pullet is now laying).

[a] NB. That apparently 20 galls. equals almost exactly 3 cubic ft. [Orwell’s note]

[1] Orwell omitted ‘know’ in starting a new page. Peter Davison

27.7.39.

Foreign & General
1. More fighting on Manchukuo border. Japanese said to be contemplating blockade of Russian half of Sakhalin. Daily Telegraph [a]
2. French-British-Russian staff talks being arranged for. Question of Baltic states apparently unsettled. Daily Telegraph [b]
3. Public Information leaflet No. 4 (food storage) issued today. [No reference]
Party Politics
1. Conservatives held Monmouth div.n with reduced majority. Both polls dropped. Daily Telegraph [c]
2. Quiepo de Llano appointed ambassador to Argentine. Daily Telegraph [d]
3. Summary of efforts of the various anti-war groups to be found in New English Weekly 20 & 27.7.39 New English Weekly, 20-27.7.39
4. The MP.s (19) who voted against the I.R.A. bill included Gallacher, Pritt, Cripps. New Leader, 28.7.39

[a] [b] [c] [d]

26.7.39.

Fine & warm. Finished thatching hay, as well as it can be done, which is not very well. However this is practice for another occasion when there is more hay. Stack is about 8’ x 6’ by 5’ at highest point. Hoed out cabbages & turnips, both doing well.
11 eggs (1 small). Sold 35 @ 2/6 score (4/3 – ought to have been 4/4½).

[NOTE] Probably about the 26 July Orwell wrote to the Scientific Poultry Breeders’ Association about the Food Purchase Scheme it ran for members. His letter has not survived, but one from S. R. Harvey, General Manager and Secretary of S.P.B.A. Supplies, Ltd. dated 28 July, gives details of discounts allowed on poultry feedstuffs, and also encloses details of association membership. Peter Davison

26.7.39.

Foreign & General
1. General impression in world press that Gt. Britain has climbed down in Tokyo agreement. Daily Telegraph [a]
2. Another demonstration flight of 240 aeroplanes over France. Joint French-British aeroplane production now claimed to equal German. Daily Telegraph [b]
Social
1. Proposal to affiliate N.U.J. to T.U.C. lost by very narrow margin (ballot showed actual majority for but not 2/3 majority. Daily Telegraph [c]
Party Politics
1. Franco evidently standing by his Axis commitments & seems about due for his June purge against de Llano, Yague & others. Daily Telegraph [d]
2. Litvinoff apparently in disgrace. Daily Telegraph [e]

 

[a] [b] [c] [d] [e]

25.7.39.

Fairly fine & hot. Endeavouring to stack the hay. 12 eggs (1 small).

25.7.39.

Foreign & General
1. Brit-Japanese agreement very vaguely worded but amounts to climbing down on Britain’s part as in effect it amounts to a promise not to help Chinese. Chamberlain denies any alteration in British policy. Daily Telegraph [a]
2. Anglo-Soviet pact back on front page & appears more probable. Daily Telegraph [b]
Social
1. Bill to deal with I.R.A. provides for power to prohibit entry of aliens, deportation of aliens, & compulsory registration of aliens. Also emergency power to Sup.ts of Police to search without warrant. Bill said to be for 2 years only. Not seriously opposed (passed 218-17.) Daily Telegraph [c]

 

[a] [b] [c]