24.7.39.

Fine in morning, cold & miserable in afternoon. Wildflowers now in bloom: agrimony, perforated St. John’s Wort, red dead nettle, wild mignonette, self-heal, woody nightshade, stitchwort. Found nest of wild bees in grass in churchyard. Nest of moss rather like that made by dormouse. Dahlias budding. Picked first of our own lettuces today, & first ripe gooseberries yesterday. Many peas.
14 eggs (1 very small). A little rain this evening.

24.7.39.

Foreign & General
1. The conversation with Wohltat was held by R.S. Hudson (Overseas Trade) who reported to the P.M. following day. Obviously the affair has been allowed to leak out intentionally. Italian press reported as suggesting that this (tie-up with Germany) is a threat aimed at impressing U.S.S.R. Anglo-Russian pact back on front page with suggestions that Stalin really wants it. German trade talks are also being resumed, this presumably a threat aimed at England. Daily Telegraph [a]
2. Fighting on Mongolia° border evidently genuine. Daily Telegraph [b]
3. Japanese press giving advance forecast of terms to Britain over Tientsin which would clearly not be accepted. Daily Telegraph [c]

[a] [b] [c]

23.7.39.

Foreign & General
1. It appears from today’s press that the offer referred to in this column yesterday has actually been talked of, but only unofficially. Cabinet disclaim knowledge but evidently know all about it. Presumption is that it has been allowed to leak out to see how the public take it. Terms were: loan (amount not stated) to Germany, raw materials & possible condominium in certain African possessions, against partial disarmament & withdrawal from Czechoslovakia. Sunday Times[a]; Sunday Express [b]
2. Now evident that Russian pact will fall through Sunday Express [c]
3. Calling up of territorials & naval reservists suggests that danger moment will be first week of August. Sunday Times [d]
Party Politics
1. Cause of Queipo de Llano’s dismissal said to be that he protested over tying Spain to the Axis & threatened to declare independence of Andalusia. Sunday Express [e]
2. Nat. Liberals intend to split Gov.t vote in Brecon by-election. Sunday Express [f]
3. Editor (Grey) of pro-Fascist “Aeroplane” has resigned for unexplained reasons. Sunday Express [g]
4. Beaverbrook press now more openly against the Russian pact & for isolationism than for some months past. [No reference]

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

23.7.39.

A little rain in the evening, otherwise dry, but overcast & not very warm. Many harebells. Found the first ripe dewberry. Oats almost ripe in some fields, wheat grains still milky. Seagulls about – one does not usually see them here. The Ridleys have a dahlia in bloom.
12 eggs.

22.7.39.

Overcast & oppressive. A good deal of rain for about an hour in the evening. E. raised 3 roots of early potatoes (only 3 months sown). Few potatoes, about 1 lb. on the 3, but many young ones coming.
12 eggs. Sold 1½ score @ 2/6. Total this week: 84.

22.7.39.

Foreign & General
1. Rumours of impending Anglo-American deal with Germany, which is said to be connected with Herr Wohltat’s[1] visit but not as yet sponsored by the Cabinet.  Conditions to be loan of £1000 million & access to raw materials, in return for disarmament under international surveyance. Daily Telegraph [a]
2. Russian fleet exercises evidently designed to impress Baltic States. Daily Telegraph [b]
Social
1. D. Tel. Gossip column notes that nearly 100 Conservative MPs. are officers in the territorials, R.A.F. voluntary reserve etc. Daily Telegraph [c]
Party Politics
1. Queipo de Llano relieved of his post. Daily Telegraph [d]
2. Friendly review of my novel in “Daily Worker.”[2]  Daily Worker, 19.7.39 [e]

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

[1] Dr. Helmut Wohltat, Economic Adviser to Hermann Goering, was visiting Britain for a conference on whaling. He undoubtedly also had discussions with R.S. Hudson of the Department of Overseas Trade. It is now known that each was acting on his own initiative, but suspicions were aroused. Prime Minister Chamberlain categorically denied to the House of Commons on 24 July that anything more was involved than informal discussion on matters of joint interest, and assured the House that no proposals for a loan had been made.
[2] Orwell’s surprise was occasioned by the way the Daily Worker had attacked him in 1937; see letter to Victor Gollancz, 20 August 1937, 390. Peter Davison

http://www.spartacus.schoolnet.co.uk/2WWgoring.htm

21.7.39.

Foreign & General
1. Polish official assassinated on Danzig frontier & consequent “tension.” Daily Telegraph [a]
Social
1. Times has leading article explaining (not very satisfactorily) the business of the Spender letter. The Times, 20.7.39
2. M.G. Weekly prints long letter extolling the Italian régime in Abyssinia & another answering this. Manchester Guardian Weekly [b]
Party Politics
1. Conservatives hold Hythe with reduced majority. Only 37% or electorate voted. People’s Party candidate polled 5-600 votes. Daily Telegraph [c]
2. Internal row in London I.L.P. still obscure, but evidently reduces to a quarrel between the E[xecutive].C.[ommittee] who wish to attract pacifists into the party & the London Divisional Council who are more or less Trotskyist. Apparently some hope of getting rid of the latter. New Leader
3. Parliamentary debate on Palestine, illegal immigration etc., passed off with less row than had been anticipated. Daily Telegraph [d]

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

21.7.39.

Fine part of the day, but overcast & damp in the morning, & a thunderstorm in the afternoon. Wheat yellowing. Planted out leeks (38 make a row.) Weeds very bad everywhere. This morning a female flower of a marrow opened; shut again this evening so presumably fertilized. Goats’ yield down, owing to yesterday. Gooseberries almost ripe.
13 eggs.

20.7.39.

Some sun in the morning, otherwise almost continuous rain all day. Impossible to do anything outside. Notice that hens always eat less in this weather. Top of hay under a few stacks is still dry in spite of the constant rain. Goats show slight tendency to diarrhea from eating wet grass.
Stated today in letter in D. Tel. That for 1 person using electricity for all purposes, except a periodical coal fire for warming, 1800-2000 units is annual minimum consumption.
12 eggs (1 v. small – it is the mother hen that lays these).

20.7.39.

Foreign & General
1. Public Information Leaflet no.3 (evacuation) issued today. Never less than 4 searchlights visible at night from this village. [No reference]
2. News from Danzig seems to indicate that all there expect Danzig to fall into German hands in near future. Daily Telegraph [a]
3. France said to be in favour of acceptance of Russian terms for Anglo-Russian pact, which have not been altered re. The Baltic States. Daily Telegraph [b]
Social
1. One of the editors of Humanité questioned by the Paris police with ref. to spy revelations, but no indication from report whether merely in advisory capacity or under suspicion of complicity. Daily Telegraph [c]
2. Recent W.O. regulation has forbidden army officers to resign their commissions & seemingly steps are being taken to prevent N.C.Ss buying out from the service (present cost £35). Daily Telegraph [d]

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