Direction of German drives in Russia, 1942
Port
nezh
Bydgori
Kharkov
ARMY
ថា
CRIMEA
Sebastopol
Stalino
Taganro
!
Rayrox. German fiorit tire, April 19942
Certian advaruize Army Group "A"
Stalingrad
Astrakhan
CASPIAN
Grozny
Mts.
"Tiflis
BLACK
SEA
Batum
THE CHINA MAIL THURSDAY, NOVEMBER 30, 1950..
SEA
Baku,
TURKE
200
300 Miles
PERSIA
OSTALIN
dinner at the Krem-
the
were
lin, where about. 40 people. including several of military commanders, mem- bera of Politburo, and other high officials 'present. Stalin and Molotov did the honours in cordial fashion. These dinners were lengthy, and from the ginning many toasts proposed and responded to in very short speeches.
be-
were
Silly tales have been told of how these Soviet dinuers be- came drinking-bouts.
There is
7
This is Chapter 26 of "The Hinge of
26 of "The Hinge of BRAATHENS
Fate" Mr Churchill's fourth volume
of Second World War reminiscences
had been uncorking various but- les, which began to moke on imposing array. Then he said: "Why should we not have Molotov? He is worrying about the communique. We could set- tle it here. There is one thing about Molotov he can drink."
I then realised that there was I had planned to be a dinner. to dine at State Villa No. 7, where Gen. Anders, the Polishi commander, was awaiting me, but I told my new and excellent interpreter, Major Birse, to tele- phone that I should not be back till after midnight.
DI).
I opened the question of a dealt with. This means another British landing in Norway with large increase in the food sup Russian support, and explained ply."
how, if we could take the North I record as they come back Cape in the winter and destroy to me these memories and the the Germans there, the
path the car
strong impression I sustained at! henceforth the
Convoys would
the moment of millions of men be open. This idea was always, and women being blotted out or as has been seen, one of
my
displaced for ever. A generation favourite plans. Stalin seamed would no doubt come to whom much attracted by it, and, after their miseries were unknown, talking of ways and means, we but it would be sure of having agreed we must do it if possible. more to eat and bless Stalin'e
It was now past midnight, and Cadogan had not appeared with the draft of the communique.
"Tell me." I asked, "have the stresses of this war been as bad Presently Molotov arrived. We sat down and, with the two in to you personally as carrying through the policy of the Collec- terpreters, were five in number: tive Farms?" This subject im- Major Birse had lived 20 years in Moscow and got on very well mediately aroused the Marshal. with the Marshal, with whom "Oh, no," he said "the Collective
Farm policy was be for some time kept up a running conversation, in which struggle." I could not share.
name,
I did not repeat Burke's dic- tum: "If I cannot have reform will not without Injustice, I have reform." With the World War going on all round us 31; seemed vain to moralise aloud.
Departure
terrible with the a
the
About 1 a.m. Cadogan arrived draft and we set to work to put it into final form. A
"I thought you
would have considerable sucking-pig was brought to the table. Hitherto had only tasted the found it bad," said I, because Stalin you were not dealing with a fow dishes, but now it was half-past score thousands of aristocrats one in the morning and around or big landowners, but with his usual dinner hour. He in- vited Cudogan to join him in the conflict, and when my friend excused himself Our host
fell upon the victim single-handed.
We actually sat at this table from 8.30 p.m. til 2.30 the next
my pre morning, which, with vious Interview, made a total of more than seven hours. The millions of small men."
PLAYS HOST
AT MIDNIGHT
speech proposing the "Intelli- gence Service," in the, course of which he made a curious reference to the Dardanelles
By Winston
PARTY
Churchill
in 1915, saying that the British
"Ten millions," he said, hold also prevent the Germans dinner was evidently improvised had won and the Germans and Turks were already re-reaching the Caspian, taking the an the spur of the moment, but ing up his hands.. "It was fear-
all gradually more and more food ful. Baku, with treating, but we did not know oilfields round because the intelligence was that meant, and then driving faulty. This pleture, though southwards through Turkey or inaccurate, was evidently meant to be complimentary to Persia.
me.
After this had been #chloved he went abruptly Into the next room to receive the reports from all sectors of the front, which were delivered to him from 0.m. onwards. It was about 20 minutes before he returned and by that time we had the com- munique agreed. Finally, at 2.30 am,, I said I must go.
10
World Copyright reserved. Repro- duction, even partially, in any
I had half an hour to drive to the villa and as long to drive back to the airport. I had a splitting headache, which for me was very unusual. I still had begged Molotov not to come and see Gen. Anders to see. I Four years it lasted. It
me off at dawn, for he was arrived. We pecked and picked, was absolutely necessary for
He looked at clearly tired out, as seemed to be the Russian Russia, if we were to avoid fashion, at a long succession of periodic famines, to plough the "Do you really think
me reproachfully, as if to say: I would choice dishes, and sipped a variety of excellent wines, lund with tractors. We must fail to be there?" He spread out the map and Molotov assumed his most aft mechanise our agriculture. When then sald with quiet confidence: able manner, and Stalin, to We gave tractors to the peasants months. Only Collective Farms Ho mercifully,
handle with workshops could tractors. We took the greatest greatest tracto trouble to explain to tro peasants. It was no use arguing itt with them. After you have said *** all you can to a peasant he says he must go home and consult his wife, and he must consult his herder." This last was a
to me new expression
in this connection.
no truth whatever in this. The 1 left about 1.30 a.m. as I was we shall stop them. They will make things go, chatted him un- they were all spoiled in a few language, strictly prohibited.
Marshal and his colleagues in-
variably drank their toasts from
tiny glasses, taking only
a sip on each occasion. I had been well brought up.
During the dinner Stalin talk- ed to
in lively fashion
through the interpreter Pavlov. "Some years ago," be sold, "we had a visit from Mr George Bernard Shaw and Lady Astor." Aator suggested that Mr Lady Lloyd George should be invited to visit Moscow, to which Stalin had replied: "Why should
we of
ask him? He was the head the intervention." On this Lady Astor said: "That is not true. It was Churchill who misled him."
“Anyhow,” said Stalin, "Lloyd George was head of the Go- vernment and belonged to the Left. He was responsible,
to
not cross the mountains." added: "There are rumours that
con-
afrald we should be drawn in
a lengthy Alm and was fatigued. When I said good bye to Stalin he said that any kestan, If they do
the Tu
Turks will attack us in Tur- Presently we talked about the differences that existed were
I shall be convoys to Russia. This led him I said we able to deal with them as well." to make a rough and rude re- only of method.
I said there was no danger of mark about the almost total would try to remove even those
differences
deeds. this. The Turks meant to keep destruction of the Arctic
not voy in June I have recounted After a cordial handshake out, and would certainly
this incident in its place. I did then took my departure, and quarrel with England,
not know so much about it then way down the got some
as I do now. crowded room, but he hurrica after me and accompanied me an immense distance through staircases to corridors and the front door, where we again shook hands....
Flaming front
Family life
-
"Mr Stalin asks," said Pavlov, with some hesitation, "has the Our hours' conversation drew British Navy no sense of glory?" to its close and I got up to say I answered. "You must take it goodbye. Stalin seemed sudden- from me that, what was done ly embarrassed and said in a was right. I really do know a and sea- more cordial tone than he had lot about the Navy
are war." yet used with
me: "You
should we not go to
my house
are
Food supply
the
(MORE TOMORROW)
SPORTSMAN'S
DOWNFALL
(Continued from Fare 6)
never-
against him, Mr Topping might well have expected ending gratitude. His expecta- tions would have been disap-
"After he has talked it over pointed, with them he always answers
on
cali
Before be could
request
that he does not want the Collec- repayment of his loan, Mr Top- his died, and it fell to tive Farm and he would rather ping do without the tractors."
dependants to make the claim his behalf. Sievier re- "These were what you
pudated any liability, and writ had to be issued against him to enforce repayment of
debt, and
thereupon the
leaving at daybreak. Why "Meaning," said Stalin, "that I had been offended by many and have some drinks?" I said I know nothing." "Russia is a ve like a downright enemy het. Our conferences. I made every that I was in principig always sea animais." He fell silent and Kulaks?" er than a pretending friend," allowance for the strain under in favour of such a policy.
ot so
and
things which had been said at
Iny
B111
land animal," I said; "the British
recovered his good-humour.
Churchill is shed which the Soviet leaders
finished
with their vast front daming So he led the way through spid Lady Astor. "I am sure," Stalin had answer and bleeding along nearly 2,000 many passages and rooms ed. "If a great crials comes the miles, and the Germans but so we came out into a still road- English people might turn to the miles from Moscow and ad- way within the Kremlin, and in vancing towards the Casplan a couple of hundred yards gain- old warhorse.
Sea.
me his own tov.
In the past
this, point :: I interrupted, There is much in what was very active in fon, god do not think otherw/loc.”
Lived. He
ed the newhere he
Molotov's trip
I turned the talk on to Mola-
in his return
"Yes," he said, but he did not repeat the word. After a pause
"It was all very bad and dif-Slevler adopted a course whilch stamped him once and for all flcult-but necessary."
as a man beneath contempt.
He swore in an affidavit that the £1,000 had never been a
06
"What happened?" I asked. "Oh, well," he sald, "many "Was the Marshal aware of them agreed to come in with debt; that it was money owing to Mr Topping as the result of The technical military discus- rooms, which were of moderate that his Foreign Secretary on
Some of them were given bet mude by Mr Slevier on sions had not, gone well. Our size, simple, dignified and four his recent visit to Washington us.
racecourse, and that, generals had asked all sorts of in number-dining room, work- had said he was determined to land of their own to cultivate the questions to which their Soviet ing room, bedroom and a large pay a visit to New York entirely in the province of Tomsk or the
the Gaming colleagues were not authorised bathroom.
by himself, and that the delay province of Irkutsk or farther such, it was a wagering trans- to give answers. The only Soviet
was not due to north, but the great bulk were action to which Presently there demand was for "A Second
appeared, any defect in the aeroplane, but very unpopular and were wiped Acts applied, and that Slevier could, and would, rely on these Acts to avold the necessity for Front now. In the end Brooke first a very aged housekeeper because he was off on his own?" out by their labourer.” was rather bhunt, and the mill and later a handsome red-hair-
There Wis a considerabla payment. Although almost anything can
Faced Then "Not only have
by tary conference came to a some ed girl, who kissed her father
that affidavit, what abrupt conclusion. dutifully. He looked at me with be said in fun at a Russian din pause.
food Slevier had no possible reply. Molotov twinkle in his eye as if, so I ner.
looked rather we vastly increased the We were to start at dawn on thought, to convey. You are, serious at this. But, Stalin's face supply, but we have improved And it may well have been the Could any words of Mr the 10th. On the evening before even we Bolsheviks have family 1 with merriment as he said: the quality of the grain beyond end. that lag went at soven o'clock to. say life f
"It was
not to New York he all measure. All kinds of grain Wootton have been too strong which to describe a man belong. - goodbye to Stalin. We had
went. Ho went to Chicago, used to be grown. Now no one in
could be guilty of such usful, and important talk. I Stalin's daughter startet lav- where the other gangsters live" is allowed to sow any but the who
standard Soviet grain from one conduct towards his dead particularly whether he Ing the table, and in a short time would be able to hold the the homekeeper appeared with Relatior having the been end of our country to the other. friend?
ran If they do they, are severely In vain Slavier appealed Caucasus, mountain passes, and a few dishes, Meanwhile Stalin entirely restored, the talk
passionately to an impassive Jury; in vain he sought to re- mind them that he had been
nited amicably, so I said:
emer
already acquitted of the gravest charge now made against him; in vain he sought to brush aside the less impor- tant incidents in his career.
The jury had heard enough to satisfy them that the allega- tions mode by Mr Wootton were truc. They found by their
verdict
that Robert
Slevier
was a blacionaler, a Uhr and rogue.
Even the onlookers, who had Ustened so attentively through- out the trial, appeared, to know it, too. The same crowd which | had cheered Slevier so en-... thusiastically two days before
with cries of "Good old Bob, norar
carried Wootton shoulder high into the Strand.
The glory of Robert Biavler had departed, and he left: sho prosincis, of the court by the back door.
Many, an honest portamon was overjoyed at the complete lasposiára, of :Sløvler, sportsmen who did not regard sport merely as another."name" for winning money.
MAS wall-known racing man was.congratulating me won the
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