The Day We Went to War by Terry Charman Read Free Book Online Page A

magazine’s ‘Britain Prepares’ series.
    27 May, M OSCOW
    New Anglo-French proposals for a three-power agreement on countering German aggression are sent to Moscow for consideration. The Foreign Office believes that they meet all previous Soviet requirements. But the Russians want guarantees to the Baltic statesto be included, and also a military agreement to come into force before a political one.
    31 May, M OSCOW
    Molotov delivers a speech on Soviet foreign policy. It is not well received in London. Oliver Harvey writes in his diary, ‘Molotov has said in his speech that our proposals are so confused that he cannot make out whether we really want an agreement or not; and that in any case he is about to negotiate a Soviet-German commercial agreement.’
    Meanwhile, Chamberlain is away fishing in Wales and Lord Halifax is on his estate in Yorkshire.
    June
    3 June, L ONDON
    Peace campaigner Margery Corbett Ashby, writing to Picture Post , believes, ‘perhaps, until after the harvest, we may be safe from war’.
    8 June, W ASHINGTON DC
    King George VI and Queen Elizabeth arrive during the first-ever British state visit to the USA. The British sovereigns stay with the Roosevelts and are given hot dogs at a picnic lunch. The President shakes his famous Dry Martini cocktails for the King, and the two men discuss the international situation. FDR tells the King of his intention to try and get America’s Neutrality Act revised in order to help Britain and France. He also says that if war comes then US warships will sink German U-boats on sight, ‘and wait for the consequences . . . If London was bombed USA would come in.’ The Royal visit is a great success at every level.
    8 June, L ONDON
    Lord Halifax tells peers that the Government hopes that German – Polish differences can still be settled by peaceful discussion. But hewarns them, ‘If an attempt were made to change the situation by force, in such a way [as] to threaten Polish independence, that would inevitably start a conflagration in which this country would be involved.’
    9 June, T EDDINGTON
    ‘Japs are threatening English and French settlements. Filthy little tricksters – thinking to carry out the same threats and scoundrelly behaviour as Hitler. But the world is getting tired of these methods.’ (Helena Mott)
    12 June, L ONDON
    William Strang of the Foreign Office’s Central Department leaves for Moscow. He is to try and expedite the Anglo-French-Soviet negotiations that are in danger of stalling badly. The Russians are less than flattered that such a comparatively junior official is being sent to them. Unwelcome comparisons with Chamberlain’s own three trips to Germany, on which Strang actually accompanied the Prime Minister, are being made in Moscow.
    14 June, T IENTSIN
    Tension rises between Britain and Japan following the alleged murder of a Japanese official by two Chinese citizens. The Japanese claim the Chinese have taken refuge in the International Concession, and launch a systematic campaign of harassment and humiliation of British residents of the Concession.
    14 June, L ONDON
    National Gallery Director Sir Kenneth Clark and his wife Jane give a dinner party. American political pundit Walter Lippman tells the other guests that US ambassador Joseph Kennedy has told him that war is inevitable, and that Britain will be defeated. Guest of honour Winston Churchill is indignant and refutes the ambassador’s claims.Although at the outset of the ‘almost inevitable war’, Britain may very well suffer severe setbacks, Churchill tells the company: ‘Yet these trials and disasters . . . will but serve to steel the resolution of the British people, and to enhance our will for victory . . . Yet supposing Mr Kennedy were correct in his tragic utterance, then I for one would willingly lay down my life in combat, rather than, in fear of defeat, surrender to the menaces of these most sinister men.’
    14 June, T EDDINGTON
    ‘The Japs blockaded Tiensin –