14.7.39.

Warm, but rainy. Took nets off strawberries & began weeding, which is almost impossible due to the growth of the bindweed.
Phloxes (perennial) beginning to flower.
12 eggs.

13.7.39.

Social
1. J.A. Spender continues his attack on Sinclair. Times prints other letters to same effect, none contradicting. The Times [a]
Party Politics
1. Labour Party has more or less refused conditional affiliation of I.L.P.  I.L.P. evidently considering all-but unconditional affiliation. The Times [b]; New Leader, 14.7.39

[a](TimesArchive) [b] (TimesArchive)

13.7.39.

Hot. The lame hen segregated to watch developments.
14 eggs. Bergamot flowering.

12.7.39.

Foreign & General
1. Explusion of foreigners from Italian Tyrol does not include Americans. Rumours that purpose is to cover movements of German troops into Italy. E. Standard correspondent declares this is a mare’s nest. Daily Telegraph [a]; Evening Standard [b]
2. Chamberlain’s speech apparently taken seriously throughout most of world Daily Herald [c]
Social
1. J.A. Spender published letter in Times attacking Sir A. Sinclair. Sinclair’s reply refused publication. Today various prominent Liberals sent joint letter to D. Tel. exposing this, which D. Tel. published  Daily Telegraph [d]
2. Labour amendment to Agricultural Development Bill, to make farm labourers’ minimum wage £2 (present average 35/-) defeated by only 4 votes. Daily Herald [e]
Party Politics
1. Catholic press as represented by the Universe is now strongly anti-Nazi but scarcely as yet anti-Italian &still strongly anti-red as regards Spain. Universe, 7.7.39

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

12.7.39.

Hot. Madonna lilies out.
Bedstraw, mallows & knapweed in flower. Robin’s pincushions on briars.
Goats will not eat cake every time so shall give it them about once a week.
12 eggs. Sold 1½ score @2/8.

11.7.[1]39.

Warm but not very sunny. Pricked out 90 wallflowers (flame). T. [2] thinks the lame pullet may have “the disease” (presumably coccidiosis) in which case it would be better to kill her. The infallible symptom is yellow dung, but apparently it usually starts with lameness in the left leg.
Started the goats on cotton cake to see whether they will eat it. K.’s milk normal again (21/2pts.) 2lb. strawberries. Sussex hen is moulting.
12 eggs.

[1] Orwell originally wrote ‘9’, crossed it out, and substituted ‘7’. His letter to Leonard Moore of 11th June 1939 is also erroneously dated as 11.9.39; see 548, n.1.
[2] Perhaps Mr. Titley. Peter Davison

11.7.39.

Foreign & General
1. More reports of fighting on the Manchukuo border, sufficient to indicate that fighting (prob. inconclusive) has actually taken place. Daily Telegraph [a]
2. Chamberlain’s speech reiterates that we shall support the Poles in case of Danzig coup, but seems to leave initiative to the Poles. Daily Telegraph [b]
3. German reports that Russian submarine fleet is larger than anticipated. Warships using Stalin canal for first time. Daily Telegraph [c]
Party Politics
1. Further letters in D. Tel. demanding inclusion of Churchill. These however do not imply very strong criticism of Chamberlain. D. Tel. Prints a few against. Times said to be printing none for. Daily Telegraph [d]
Miscellaneous
1. Death of Havelock Ellis, aged 80, gets small front page mention in D. Tel. Daily Telegraph [e]

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

10.7.39

Foreign & General

1. Germany is said to be demanding entire Rumanian wheat crop, also part of what is left over from 1938 crop. Daily Telegraph [a]

2. Large-scale practice blackout on Sat. night said to have gone off successfully. Daily Telegraph [b]

Social

1. Groups of friends entering militia are being[1] split up, sufficiently noticeably for this to call for explanation by the W[ar].O[ffice].[2] Daily Telegraph [c]

Party Politics

1. Papers which appealed on July 3 for inclusion of Churchill in cabinet were D. Tel., Yorkshire Post, News-C., M. Guardian and Dy. Mirror. It is alleged that Communist party after demanding C’s inclusion for some months are becoming alarmed now that it appears likely to happen. Socialist Correspondence, 8.7.39

2. Bela Kun again reported shot in Moscow. La Révolution Prolétarienne

[a] [b] [c]

[1] Orwell first wrote ‘have been’.

[2] The practice of separating friends, especially from the same locality, was designed to ensure that if a unit suffered heavy losses they were not all felt in the same town or city. This policy was adopted following the terrible casualties inflicted at the Battle of the Somme (July-October 1916), when units of men from the same place (e.g. the Exeter Boys) trained together, went into action together, and were then almost wiped out in a few moments, which concentrated the grief felt at home. The effect of the deaths of the five Sullivan brothers when U.S.S. Juneau was sunk, 13 November 1942, is another example. Peter Davison

10.7.39.

Overcast, warm & still. Some hollyhocks flowering. Madonna lilies & bergamot almost out. Did nothing in garden except weeding. K.’s appetite somewhat improved but bad drop in her milk today (only about 11/4 pt.) E. picked about 11/2lb. strawberries yesterday.
10 eggs.

9.7.39.

Foreign & General
1. Madame Tabouis considers chances of full Russian-French-British pact are now small & hints that Russians wish to regain position of Czarist Empire in the Baltic Provinces. Sunday Dispatch [a]
Social
1. Population of Scotland now more than 5 million. Sunday Times [b]
Party Politics
1. I.F.T.U. rejected motion to invite Russian affiliation, but not v. large majority.[1] Sunday Times [c]

[Orwell’s note]

[1] Majority said to be entirely due to large vote held by Green of the A.F.L.

[a] [b] (TimesArchive) [c] (TimesArchive)