Churchill’s War Extracts from pencilled diary kept by Anthony Eden Oct 9-12, 1944 on his visit to Moscow. Lord Avon papers, University of Birmingham, file AP.20/3/09.
This is a GR war diary, 8+8pp, titled “Moscow, Athens Oct – Nov 1944”. [ The flight from Cairo to Moscow ] Monday Oct[ober] 9, [1944 “¦ Moscow]: Slept little late & was eventually woken about 9 am by the steward [ aboard the York airplane ]. W [ Winston Churchill ] only person still asleep.
He soon woke up & we had an excellent breakfast of cold pheasant & white wine which he provided! Country looked pleasant in the sunshine & autumn colouring. [“¦] Landed triumphantly at wrong aerodrome some miles from Moscow. Not very good. Pug considers this journey provides many strong arguments why Air Ministry should not control Civil Aviation. Half an hour later landed happily where we should. Usual ceremonies at airport.
Maisky and Vishinski whisked me off to Embassy while PM went to his Datcha which neither of us had realised was 45 miles away. Some talk with M & V who were certainly friendly enough. Then joined W at his Datcha in time for late luncheon. Some time of plans then I went back & had first meeting with Molotov. This was friendly & easy, so was our first meeting with U.J. after dinner.
He agreed that Mick [Mikolajczyk] should be sent for and to have ‘another try’ to settle Polish affairs. W came