Among
documents collected by David Irving for
his libel actions against Hungarian
born Gitta Sereny and the US Professor
Deborah Lipstadt is his diary for July
1992, covering the final days of his
Moscow research | Plaintiff's
Discovery | |
Illustrations provided
by and © FPP Website 1998
| | David
Irving's diary for July 1- 5, 1992 |  July
1, 1992
(Wednesday)
Moscow
AS I was having breakfast Peter
Pringle, local stringer for The
Independent, walked in and sat at the table with
me. He had heard I am in Moscow, on the grapevine,
and asked: "It's the Goebbels
Diaries, isn't it." I was hideously embarrassed
and said so: I cannot talk, as clause 4 in my
contract with a certain newspaper says I mustn't.
He: "It' s the Sunday Times isn't it." He pressed
me hard to tell him what the archives is. I said he
would not find it even if he had the address as
there is no nameplate on the building. I took a cab
to the archives at 10 a.m., running half an hour
late now), he walked into the reading room an hour
later with Bondarev, "just to see the
microfilm reader." I was even more embarrassed, and
made him promise not to say I had given him any
information at all. He grinned broadly. How on
earth did he even find out my hotel? The archives now (belatedly) let me read the
other materials again, so I frantically tried to
catch up, having marked time for two days. The
Reichskristallnacht
material is spectacular -- four undated pages
following the one dated November 10, 1938, which is
why Elke Fröhlich was misled into
believing there was only very little. Phone call at 4 p.m., to go to the Sunday Times
bureau as soon as possible as London wants to speak
with me. Left archives around 4:45 p.m., taxi to
their office, and spoke at 5:10 p.m. with John
Witheroe, then Peter
Millar, then John Bastable. They are
running a trailer this week in the Sunday Times.
(This will put up the [François]
Genoud price colossally I fear.) They need a
letter now from me saying I think the diaries
genuine, and why. Also they need again the faxes
from Bundesarchiv and IfZ saying the same. I faxed
to Millar (...) the four additional pages on
Kristallnacht and he said later that they are
really magnificent. They may omit Anschluss (thank
goodness). What is the rights position? I
vamped. To Metropol by taxi. Tea there, bought
postcards, and photocopied the four Kristallnacht
pp. in original. Good enlargements. Back to hotel,
supper (borscht again). At 8:50 p.m. Peter Millar
phoned, Elke Fröhlich is being very
uncommunicative, Der Spiegel had visited her today
also. 9 p.m. Alistair Brett's office phoned
(Times legal syndication), I must get an oral
agreement from Genoud by the weekend. The Sunday Times man here, Matthew
Campbell, told me this afternoon. with
embarrassment all across his face, and with the
utmost diffidence, after I had said somebody had
leaked my presence in Moscow: he had dinner with
Eddie Shah last night, and Shah told
everybody in the room about me being here looking
at the Goebbels Diaries. Anthony Holden was
listening, and A.H. is a bosom pal of Peter
Pringle. Ouch. I immediately confessed to Peter
Millar when he phoned, but added that I told
Pringle nothing, except that we're not planning
anything for some weeks. "That's the bad news," I
said. "The good news is that the archive is closing
on Monday -- until the end of September! So nobody
will be able to scoop us!" 10 p.m. a rather unsatisfactory conversation
with Genoud's lawyer Frau [Cordula]
Schacht. She still has big sums in her eyes,
talks of him sharing my royalties, percentage etc.
I try to disillusion her. She asks for precise
details of which passages we want to quote. I
suspect she has done nothing since my faxes to her.
However, she mentions that Genoud is now back at
Lausanne. Tomorrow I shall phone him direct. 11:15 p.m. sent fax to Frau Schacht giving
information desired and urging her to speedy reply,
before this weekend, for England only at first, if
necessary. This is getting awkward. Bed around midnight. This typewriter is now virtually at an end.
Lord Cherwell: "The perfect machine is that
whose every working part ceases to function
simultaneously. I am that machine!" And this is
that typewriter. Its platen bar has snapped; I can
still work it, holding it in place with a
screwdriver. | July
2, 1992
(Thursday)
Moscow ROSE 8:15 a.m. Slacking off. Can't enter
archives before 10 a.m. anyway. Taxi to archives,
arrived 9:20 a.m. [...] In archives all
day. They're still dragging their feet on producing
the boxes of original slides I saw last time.
However, I kept busy. The two slides we legally
borrowed were returned by Sasha during the day to
the archives. Left there 5 p.m., Metro to my hotel
to see if there is a fax reply from Frau Dr
Schacht, Genoud's lawyer yet (there is not); then
taxi to Sunday Times bureau. 7 p.m. at Sunday Times
bureau. Phoned Frau Dr Schacht; no reply. Phoned
Genoud, no reply; phoned London flat, to ask Birgit
if there is a fax there from Frau Dr Schacht (there
is not). Spoke with John Witheroe at Sunday Times,
then with Peter Millar who has raided my flat for
the missing pages. 9:45 p.m. BBC South East phoned, wanting to talk
to me about tomorrow's demonstration outside Duke
Street. I: okay. They: will phone back in 45
minutes. 9:50 p.m. Andrew -- phoned. Answering machine
was full of messages, from radio, TV, etc., he has
given them the number here. Is liaising with the
police about Friday, Saturday. 9:58 p.m. Stephen Dewar journalist, to
arrange an interview. I: 3 p.m. Sunday. 10:15 p.m. LBC phoned, could they do an
interview tomorrow? I: time difficulties, I shall
be in archives all day and don't know the
number. 10:20 p.m. BBC phoned for an interview, which I
did. 10:25 a.m. LBC did a phone interview. Quite
tough. (Andrew appears to be telling all of them
about the Sunday Times.) 11. 35 p.m. phoned Genoud in Lausanne. He
sounded odd, said however he is not gaga. He
accused me of smearing him to a Jewish TV
journalist Annette Levy "in California." I
denied this, but when he continued in the same vein
I said I have not phoned him at great expense to
defend myself against unwarranted allegations,
merely to find out how the business is proceeding.
He said the sum I offer is lächerlich
[ludicrous]. I point out that Goebbels is
bald tot [soon a dead duck], and the story
too if he will not clear it for publication. I did
not mention to him his dubious legal position. When
he repeated the offer was lächerlich, I
reminded him how limited were the rights we were
interested in (three months, up to 15,000 words
etc.), and he should make a counter suggestion on
which basis we could talk. I complained that his
lawyer had done nothing for five days. 11:45 p.m. phoned her, Frau Schacht. She said
she had tried several times to get a fax through to
this hotel number, in vain. I ask her therefore to
send it to my London flat. She said that Genoud is
against giving me any rights because I had defamed
him. (He has gone partly mad obviously). I said
that if the Geschäft [deal] is
cancelled [she now knows it is the Sunday Times
and Spiegel] then he will get no money at all,
and nor the diary fragments either. She thought
this was odd if I protest I am his friend. I
explain that a lot of money has been invested in
this, and it is for him now to recognize my
generosity in wanting to let him participate in it
despite, as I now ominously mentioned to her, the
"unklare Rechtslage" [obscure legal
position] outside Germany relating to the
rights. At this she paused, muttered that Britain
was a signatory of copyright convention. I repeated
that the Rechtslage as to these rights is more than
dubious. She said that if Der Spiegel are
negotiating, the S Fr 10,000 is lächerlich. I
replied that as soon as Spiegel had heard that he
was blocking, or being obstinate, they had
withdrawn their interest (abgemeldet). I urge her
to get Genoud to make a counter proposal for us to
consider, by tomorrow evening. She said, in effect:
why the hurry, a newspaper can wait. (He had said
the same). I said, it was not for them to dictate
dates to a newspaper. I remained firm but polite,
stressing my generosity in cutting Genoud in, out
of my own pocket, despite the dubious Rechtslage. I
urge her to reconsider. Bed around midnight thirty. Jonathan Bastable
phoned half an hour after that, to arrange to meet
me to hand over the glass plates. I said, 9 a.m. in
hotel restaurant here. [He did not
show.] | July
3, 1992 Friday
Moscow THE DAY the Knives Came out. Rose 8 a.m.
Breakfast at 9, but there was no sign of Jonathan
Bastable. Sent fax to Frau Schacht 9 a.m., offering
SFR 20,000 as final offer, valid only until 8 p.m.
London time today. 9:30 a.m. car to archives. During the morning
Bastable phoned, no explanation for missing the
appointment, arranged to meet me outside the
archives at 12 precisely. 11:58 a.m. I walked out, he was seated in car
across the street. He handed the glass plates back
to me. I asked him to conduct the interviews
requested by Andrew Neil, re authenticity of
provenance of the microfiches. I replaced the two plates (March to September
1934) in the box of 13, making a total of 15;
unfortunately, the archivist Tatiana
[Vasilyeva] told me today that the archives
will not, under their new agreement with "the
Germans", let me see the other (original) big boxes
again. Operation Stable Door! I already have nearly
all that was necessary. At 1 p.m. Matthew Campbell, Sunday Times's local
man, phoned to say that today's Independent has
splashed the item from Peter Pringle. In
consequence the S.T. bureau in Moscow is inundated
with phone calls, including one from ITN. Andrew
Neil thinks that it would be a good think now to
let television news get at the story, without
revealing the content as before. After putting
Iryena onto Bondarev 's secretary to get permission
for the ITN team to film, I spoke with Matthew
Campbell again and asked him to confirm clearly
what he had just said, since Clause 4 of my
contract specifically forbids me to give interviews
to the media about the diaries. He repeated that
Andrew Neil thought it would now be most
useful. At 1:15 p.m. the Daily Mail phoned me at the
archives. I confirmed what they knew, refused to
comment on content of the diaries. At 1:50 p.m. Tatiana (archivist) asked me
outside into the corridor, and with embarassment
asked me if I had taken plates out of the
collection. I replied that we had borrowed plates
with permission, but had returned all those that we
had borrowed, intact. I have no original items from
their collection in my possession, only the copies
we or they had made. I then voluntarily handwrote a
declaration stating this,
had it translated into Russian, and signed both
texts (and took a photocopy). Preemptive strike!
She then told me a few minutes later, at 2:05 p.m.,
that they were most grateful for this, as this was
an allegation that had come from
Munich. (We can expect
trouble from there then: the IfZ will have detected
that I signed for 103 copies made on the microfiche
printer on my last visit there!) A preemptive
letter is therefore needed to Munich. Her words
verbatim: "Die Nachricht
stammt* aus
München." The knives are coming out! * [Red ink:
kommt]The ITN team came around 2:30 p.m., and we
filmed in the reading room and an interview in the
foyer. I tried to adhere to the Neil guidelines,
while whetting the viewer's appetite. Worked
through until 3:30 p.m. The car I had ordered
(Konstantin's) was waiting outside and took me in
pouring rain to the airport. Checked in -- or tried
to. After two hours of shuffling in line, British
Airways told us their plane was too small and they
bounced 54 of us off the flight. I was
philosophical. They will put us on tomorrow's
Aeroflot flight. That's what I paid £802 for.
Their supervisor only grudgingly admitted that this
entitles us to claim Denied Boarding
Compensation. Checked into Novotel hotel at the airport.
Phoned Benté, with the hotel phone and room
number. Supper downstairs, then the calls started.
Andrew Neil phoned, sounded friendly, first-names.
The Independent have splashed the story today,
unfortunately "personalizing" it, as he said, on
me. This has forced the Sunday Times onto the
defensive. He did not explain what that meant. He
asked me not to talk figures or discuss our
contract. Independent had said, a "six figure sum."
I should not discuss. I am to say "no comment"
about everything. What's the position on Genoud? I
said, I have doubled my offer, expiring tonight 8
p.m., don't know Genoud's response yet. However I
am willing to indemnify the Sunday Times if they go
ahead. He confirmed that Hamish Hamilton had not
paid off Genoud. I said it would have been
satisfying to pay him Danegeld, but there we are.
He said, "We are willing to tough it out along with
you." He asked if there is any new material I am
bringing. I said I have covered everything included
in the Schedule. I mentioned that Munich is
spreading lies about my "stealing" the plates. Andrew -- phoned. I have stirred a hornet's
nest. BBC TV news ran a horrendous item, full of
newsreel of concentration camps, etc, and the
demonstration today. It's on front page of
Independent and the Evening Standard. The machine
has twenty messages including Newsnight, Andrew
Lownie etc. Will I be back in time for the
seminar. I: if airlines permit. Daily Mail phoned, second time. They said IfZ
Munich is holding a press conference next week
about the Diaries. Wonder what that's about? Have
they got their hands on them? Is that where the
boxes have been all week? That's what I told people
in the reading room yesterday that I suspect. But
of course they do not have the [Ernst]
Röhm material, that's now locked in the
safe. I went to bed but the phone kept ringing. A
female from the Sunday Telegraph, then Martin
Bailey from the Observer. Around 1:00 a.m. the Independent Radio News
phoned, with the disquieting word that the Sunday
Times has just issued a statement virtually
dissassociating itself from me, insisting that I am
only "transcribing" the diaries, but not
translating, commenting, or editing them! Would I
confirm this? I said at once: "I cannot comment on
that, if that is what the Sunday Times states."
"What does the Contract say?" "I do not
[part of sentence has not
printed as ribbon ran out] comment." The
statement also contained vitriolic phrases, like
them making sure that I have not distorted anything
in the transcription or translation, etc. That
sounds distinctly defamatory. But wait and see. IRN
added that the Wiener Library had deplored that I,
of all people, have got my hands on the Goebbels
Diaries. I said this was typical of the frantic
envy and jealousy my deep research arouses in my
rivals. I should however refuse to be intimidated.
(Alas, it appears that Andrew Neil of The Sunday
Times is made of less stern stuff.) Phoned Andrew -- around 1:30 a.m., to ask about
News at Ten. It ran the interview, followed by an
interview with Wiener Library man who wrung his
hands in horror that I have got my hands on the
Diaries. The BBC World Service phoned, arranged to
interview me at 8 a.m. Peter Millar phoned at 1:45 a.m., from Neil's
office. The tone is suddenly very different. Neil
was "furious" at the News at Ten interview, I had
revealed far too much, they are thinking of
cancelling the contract etc., etc. If any
newspapers contact me I am to say simply, "No
comment." I said drily I had heard of Neil's
statement to the press. Millar, embarrassed, "Well,
that's him and we can't discuss that. I am only
telling you what he has just told me." I pointed
out that Matthew Campbell himself had asked me, at
Neil's request, to be cooperative with the ITN
team. We briefly discuss the coming IfZ press
conference. Millar wonders if they may declare the
diary a forgery? ("Not that I think it is for one
moment.") I say that would be hard as it tallies
with many pages they have themselves published. An awful night followed, made worse by rising
stomach pains (more bad Russian food). | July
4, 1992
(Saturday)
Moscow -- London Rose 7:55 a.m. At 8 a.m. BBC World Service
phoned. I regretted that I could make no comment on
matters concerning the Sunday Times and the
Diaries, beyond what they knew; despite their
statement, I remain "loyal" to the newspaper, I
said. BBC found that merkwürdig [odd]
(ich auch) [me too]. The statement
contained Neil's remarks that he finds my views
"reprehensible". 10:30 a.m. Martin Bailey phoned again: have the
Russians told me they will not give me access to
the records again after this summer break? (!) and,
am I editing the material or is Norman Stone
doing it? I shall retain the missing pages until
this matter is clarified. I refused to comment,
stated a in my loyalty to the Sunday Times, and
refused to discuss the contract. I said, The Knives
are Out! [See
here two pages of original handwritten phone
notes]12:45 a.m. Aeroflot flight from Moscow to
London, with all the comfort that that implies. Barrage of press and television cameramen on the
walkway off the plane, and two P.c.s, who escorted
me through back tunnels out of the airport
building. Very useful. Tube to Piccadilly. Cab from
there to Great Portland Street. Cabbie said,
"You're that Mr Irving, aren't you? I don't want
you in my cab." However I was already in it: I
reminded him of the law, as I noted his cab number,
and he took me. I gave him a 100% tip however. At
Great Portland Street a large riot police presence
and steel barricades. I stopped the cab short,
before the mob recognized me, and a police officer
took me aside until a squad car came to consign me
to the hall where I was to speak. Got in wearing a
policeman's hat. The hall was stiflingly hot but I
"spoke very well" (to paraphrase Dr. G), ending
with a fine freedom-of-speech peroration, bathed in
perspiration. Left around 5:10 p.m. back to Duke
Street.
 David
Irving (right) waits with Bente Hogh under
Metropolitan Police protection for transport
back to his apartment after the
meeting. (Photo:
Associated Press)
Police barricades still up there, but no signs
of the mob (who had moved up to Great Portland
Street) apart from hundreds of scattered placards
and banners. No damage to the building, fortunately. Heavy TV
coverage of the evening meeting, externally. 5:30 p.m. Phoned message on to Andrew Lownie's
machine. Then phoned Peter Millar. He would come
round later. 6:20 p.m. monitored fourteen messages on 499
machine, mostly journalists. Six journalists who had been waiting downstairs
all day: I let them in and gave them an hour's
interview, adhering however to the Sunday Times
clause 4. Peter Millar came, and we spoke with Andrew
Neil. Lownie had phoned and told me no cash had
been paid -- the Times now owes us two payments of
£25,000. That is infuriating. Andrew Neil
promised however to release £25,000 on Monday.
I said I had read of his unflattering statements
about me, and am adult enough to know the kind of
pressure he has been subjected to for the past few
days. He agreed it has been Hell, and blamed it on
Jewish organisations. Various newspapers phoned during the evening.
ABC Television News (Mrs Barbara Rafaelli)
phoned, could they come straight round at 8:30 p.m.
and film? Yes. (They did so, a friendly though
penetrating interview; she is Jewish, says her
husband is a great fan of mine, has all my
books.) | July
5, 1992 (Sunday)
London 9:35 a.m. Karl Philipp, on way to
Heathrow; reports that Die Welt also carried the
Independent story. 9:45 a.m. phoned DPA Knigge. 10:09 a.m. long conversation with Jobst
Knigge of DPA. He is astonished at the venom
with which the Independent, for three days now, has
been hounding the Sunday Times. 10:38 a.m. Dr -- phoned. 10:50 a.m. Robin Denniston phoned. It turns out
Lownie phoned him during the week to say, "What a
shame, the deal's off." He says I should grin and
bear it, say sweet things about the Sunday Times
and let things run their course. He may be
right. 10:58 a.m. phoned J--. Evening: Two or three lots of journalists came
to the door without appointments, and I granted
them interviews out of courtesy though revealing
nothing of the content of the new Goebbels diaries
fragments. However I took the opportunity to point
out that, contrary to the reports, I was the person
who exposed
the Hitler Diaries as fakes. A young freelance journalist trained at Leeds
University; a count, who subsequently phoned and
said they had sold the interview to the Guardian
who would be printing the interview on Tuesday
[ribbon runs
out]. [July 5, 1992 continued] Evening. 8 p.m. phoned Sky TV. They asked me for
an immediate interview. Picked me up, did 9:30
p.m. © David Irving
1999 |
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