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Diary 7: August 1939 - April 1940 Item 25
TRANSCRIPTION
Left page
Asked Sokoline to see me last night. Wanted to get
his idea as to whether the Russian move was in concert
with the German. I myself had no doubt but Walters
was anxious to hear reaction. He said No but put up
feeble defence when I put considerations to him. But
it might not have been detailed as to exact spheres
of control. He pointed out the importance of the
Russian advance along the Polish-Rumanian frontier.
(Indeed today it appears that they have reached the
Hungarian frontier, created or recreated last
autumn in the S.E. corner of Slovakia). He spoke
with more bitterness than before of the Russian
offers refused disdainfully in the Spring and said
army would have collapsed the cardboard Polish
it was perhaps as well for Russia. If they had been
accepted the cardboard Polish army would have collapsed
and the Russians would have had to bear the brunt of
the fight while it was being announced that all
was calm on the western front. Not very convincing
He gave a start when I remarked that it had a touch
of poetical justice that Poland shd be attacked in
the rear by Russia just as Poland had atacked Czecho-
Slovakia. He had been so eloquent abot the former.
To the question as to whether R wd remain neutral
in the general conflict as she had said he replied
why not, seeing that she has now the fruits of a war
without difficulty. "France and Britain smashed
collective security and now it is released all
kinds of national claims and ambitions and now it is
everyone for himself and the devil take the hindmost"
Right page
The Duke of Windsor has gone back to England after
three years to exile. I met him and Her last July when they
unexpectedly visited the Palais des Nations. I was
Acting S.G and on a Sunday afternoon was digging in
garden when the official on duty called me up. Was
tempted to let it pass but put on a suit and went over.
Liked him; very natural and with his training asked
lots of questions mostly personal. Told him I was Irish
and he wanted to place me. Spoke of the cost of
the buildings and I said it was less than the Parliament
of Belfast, a subordinate institution as compared with
a Parliament for 50 nations. "Ah, yes, I opened that
place and I remember there was some talk about the
cost. I said there were many slums in Belfast!. Typical.
She was pleasant and reserved. I had that rare feeling
that I was prejudiced against her
The "lately" Mrs Simpson was quiet, apparently
cultivated, & not undistinguished looking.
I had almost the unfortunate impression
of, "lady-like" or genteel. A great
courtesan, no doubt. I liked him,
as I say, & reflected (as a compliment) that
I should enjoy an evening's talk with him.
He is of course extremely well-informed.
I had always thought of him as likely to
be the best monarch England had had: in
fact he nearly wrecked the monarchy, I
suspect he is still in touch with bad counsellors
- witness that broadcast to USA on the eve
of poor George's vital reset last Spring.
Language(s) of Transcription
LOCATION
Gdańsk (Poland) (54.3612, 18.5499)
Story Location
ABOUT THIS DOCUMENT
Document Date
Document Type
Document Description
Language of Description
Keywords
External Web Resources
People
Vladimir Aleksandrovič Sokolin
Description: Soviet Union's Under-Secretary-General for the League of Nations from 1937 to 1939
Wikidata Reference: Q124770174
STORY INFORMATION
Title
Diary 7: August 1939 - April 1940
Creator
Lester | Seán | 1888-1959
Contributor
Seán Lester
Lester, Seán, 1888-1959
Date
August 1939 - April 1940
Type
Text
Rights
This collection has been digitised and made available by Dublin City University Library. Please credit Dublin City University Library when using these images, creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/
Language
eng
Identifier
#hq388c59q
LandingPage
https://www.europeana.eu/item/707/_hq388c59qCountry
Ireland
DatasetName
707__Dublin_City_University
Begin
1936-05-01
End
1937-02-28
Language
en
Created
2022-03-23T16:13:34.244Z
2022-03-23T16:13:40.137051Z
2022-03-23T16:13:40.137645Z
Story Description
Handwritten and typed diary entries relating to Lester's time as Deputy Secretary General of the League of 12 Nations in Geneva, the outbreak of the Second World War, and the evacuation of his wife and three daughters from Geneva to Ireland. Includes letters and cards to Lester from: Jack T Mayo ['an English fishing companion']; Ambrose B Wareing, the Danzig correspondent for the Daily Telegraph newspaper (letter dated 16 June 1937); Isidro Fabela, Mexican diplomat; Pierre Stoppani, League of Nations Economic Relations Section; Eóin MacNeill, Professor, National University of Ireland; Vladimir Sokoline, Under Secretary General's Office, League of Nations; Stephen Gwynn, former MP for Galway city, academic and journalist; S Pelychuoniades, Hellenic Delegation to the League of Nations; Joseph MN Jeffries, author and journalist; Phyllis Manning, a friend who it seems, also holidayed in Connemara and who worked at the Agricultural Economics Research Institute in Oxford, and GC Greene, 'British Sporting Agency Ltd, Digswell Vale, Welwyn, Hertfordshire, UK. Includes extract from letter written by Raymond Fosdick, Rockefeller Foundation, to Arthur Sweetser, League of Nations' Public Information Section. Also includes a handwritten 'note for talk with S.G.' [?Secretary General, Joseph Avenol], dated September 1938, newspaper cuttings, poems by Patricia E Lester [Seán Lester's daughter], and black and white photographs. First photograph features the following individuals chatting beside a bench in a garden or park 'at luncheon to [?Iroguiera' Luis Podestá Costa, League of Nations Under Secretary General; Frank P Walters, League of Nations Under Secretaries-Generals in charge of Political Section Office; Lester, and Isidro Fabela, Mexican diplomat. Second photograph features Lester, Alberto Guani, Uruguayan Foreign Minister, and [?Iroguiera] in Lester's office. There are two gaps in the diary when Lester did not record entries for months at a time. This diary opens with '[n]ot a line written in a notebook for months', and an entry on 31 January 1940 notes that '[n]othing written for 2 months'.
TRANSCRIPTION
LOCATION
DESCRIPTION
PEOPLE
STORY INFO
TUTORIAL
Left page
Asked Sokoline to see me last night. Wanted to get
his idea as to whether the Russian move was in concert
with the German. I myself had no doubt but Walters
was anxious to hear reaction. He said No but put up
feeble defence when I put considerations to him. But
it might not have been detailed as to exact spheres
of control. He pointed out the importance of the
Russian advance along the Polish-Rumanian frontier.
(Indeed today it appears that they have reached the
Hungarian frontier, created or recreated last
autumn in the S.E. corner of Slovakia). He spoke
with more bitterness than before of the Russian
offers refused disdainfully in the Spring and said
army would have collapsed the cardboard Polish
it was perhaps as well for Russia. If they had been
accepted the cardboard Polish army would have collapsed
and the Russians would have had to bear the brunt of
the fight while it was being announced that all
was calm on the western front. Not very convincing
He gave a start when I remarked that it had a touch
of poetical justice that Poland shd be attacked in
the rear by Russia just as Poland had atacked Czecho-
Slovakia. He had been so eloquent abot the former.
To the question as to whether R wd remain neutral
in the general conflict as she had said he replied
why not, seeing that she has now the fruits of a war
without difficulty. "France and Britain smashed
collective security and now it is released all
kinds of national claims and ambitions and now it is
everyone for himself and the devil take the hindmost"
Right page
The Duke of Windsor has gone back to England after
three years to exile. I met him and Her last July when they
unexpectedly visited the Palais des Nations. I was
Acting S.G and on a Sunday afternoon was digging in
garden when the official on duty called me up. Was
tempted to let it pass but put on a suit and went over.
Liked him; very natural and with his training asked
lots of questions mostly personal. Told him I was Irish
and he wanted to place me. Spoke of the cost of
the buildings and I said it was less than the Parliament
of Belfast, a subordinate institution as compared with
a Parliament for 50 nations. "Ah, yes, I opened that
place and I remember there was some talk about the
cost. I said there were many slums in Belfast!. Typical.
She was pleasant and reserved. I had that rare feeling
that I was prejudiced against her
The "lately" Mrs Simpson was quiet, apparently
cultivated, & not undistinguished looking.
I had almost the unfortunate impression
of, "lady-like" or genteel. A great
courtesan, no doubt. I liked him,
as I say, & reflected (as a compliment) that
I should enjoy an evening's talk with him.
He is of course extremely well-informed.
I had always thought of him as likely to
be the best monarch England had had: in
fact he nearly wrecked the monarchy, I
suspect he is still in touch with bad counsellors
- witness that broadcast to USA on the eve
of poor George's vital reset last Spring.
- English (English)
Left page
Asked Sokoline to see me last night. Wanted to get
his idea as to whether the Russian move was in concert
with the German. I myself had no doubt but Walters
was anxious to hear reaction. He said No but put up
feeble defence when I put considerations to him. But
it might not have been detailed as to exact spheres
of control. He pointed out the importance of the
Russian advance along the Polish-Rumanian frontier.
(Indeed today it appears that they have reached the
Hungarian frontier, created or recreated last
autumn in the S.E. corner of Slovakia). He spoke
with more bitterness than before of the Russian
offers refused disdainfully in the Spring and said
army would have collapsed the cardboard Polish
it was perhaps as well for Russia. If they had been
accepted the cardboard Polish army would have collapsed
and the Russians would have had to bear the brunt of
the fight while it was being announced that all
was calm on the western front. Not very convincing
He gave a start when I remarked that it had a touch
of poetical justice that Poland shd be attacked in
the rear by Russia just as Poland had atacked Czecho-
Slovakia. He had been so eloquent abot the former.
To the question as to whether R wd remain neutral
in the general conflict as she had said he replied
why not, seeing that she has now the fruits of a war
without difficulty. "France and Britain smashed
collective security and now it is released all
kinds of national claims and ambitions and now it is
everyone for himself and the devil take the hindmost"
Right page
The Duke of Windsor has gone back to England after
three years to exile. I met him and Her last July when they
unexpectedly visited the Palais des Nations. I was
Acting S.G and on a Sunday afternoon was digging in
garden when the official on duty called me up. Was
tempted to let it pass but put on a suit and went over.
Liked him; very natural and with his training asked
lots of questions mostly personal. Told him I was Irish
and he wanted to place me. Spoke of the cost of
the buildings and I said it was less than the Parliament
of Belfast, a subordinate institution as compared with
a Parliament for 50 nations. "Ah, yes, I opened that
place and I remember there was some talk about the
cost. I said there were many slums in Belfast!. Typical.
She was pleasant and reserved. I had that rare feeling
that I was prejudiced against her
The "lately" Mrs Simpson was quiet, apparently
cultivated, & not undistinguished looking.
I had almost the unfortunate impression
of, "lady-like" or genteel. A great
courtesan, no doubt. I liked him,
as I say, & reflected (as a compliment) that
I should enjoy an evening's talk with him.
He is of course extremely well-informed.
I had always thought of him as likely to
be the best monarch England had had: in
fact he nearly wrecked the monarchy, I
suspect he is still in touch with bad counsellors
- witness that broadcast to USA on the eve
of poor George's vital reset last Spring.
Language(s) of Transcription
English Translation
Transcription History
Left page Asked Sokoline to see me last night. Wanted to get his idea as to whether the Russian move was in concert with the German. I myself had no doubt but Walters was anxious to hear reaction. He said No but put up feeble defence when I put considerations to him. But it might not have been detailed as to exact spheres of control. He pointed out the importance of the Russian advance along the Polish-Rumanian frontier. (Indeed today it appears that they have reached the Hungarian frontier, created or recreated last autumn in the S.E. corner of Slovakia). He spoke with more bitterness than before of the Russian offers refused disdainfully in the Spring and said army would have collapsed the cardboard Polish it was perhaps as well for Russia. If they had been accepted the cardboard Polish army would have collapsed and the Russians would have had to bear the brunt of the fight while it was being announced that all was calm on the western front. Not very convincing He gave a start when I remarked that it had a touch of poetical justice that Poland shd be attacked in the rear by Russia just as Poland had atacked Czecho- Slovakia. He had been so eloquent abot the former. To the question as to whether R wd remain neutral in the general conflict as she had said he replied why not, seeing that she has now the fruits of a war without difficulty. "France and Britain smashed collective security and now it is released all kinds of national claims and ambitions and now it is everyone for himself and the devil take the hindmost" Right page The Duke of Windsor has gone back to England after three years to exile. I met him and Her last July when they unexpectedly visited the Palais des Nations. I was Acting S.G and on a Sunday afternoon was digging in garden when the official on duty called me up. Was tempted to let it pass but put on a suit and went over. Liked him; very natural and with his training asked lots of questions mostly personal. Told him I was Irish and he wanted to place me. Spoke of the cost of the buildings and I said it was less than the Parliament of Belfast, a subordinate institution as compared with a Parliament for 50 nations. "Ah, yes, I opened that place and I remember there was some talk about the cost. I said there were many slums in Belfast!. Typical. She was pleasant and reserved. I had that rare feeling that I was prejudiced against her The "lately" Mrs Simpson was quiet, apparently cultivated, & not undistinguished looking. I had almost the unfortunate impression of, "lady-like" or genteel. A great courtesan, no doubt. I liked him, as I say, & reflected (as a compliment) that I should enjoy an evening's talk with him. He is of course extremely well-informed. I had always thought of him as likely to be the best monarch England had had: in fact he nearly wrecked the monarchy, I suspect he is still in touch with bad counsellors - witness that broadcast to USA on the eve of poor George's vital reset last Spring.
Asked Sokoline to see me last night. Wanted to get his idea as to whether the Russian move was in concert with the German. I myself had no doubt but Walters was anxious to hear reaction. He said No but put up feeble defence when I put considerations to him. But it might not have been detailed as to exact spheres of control. He pointed out the importance of the Russian advance along the Polish-Rumanian frontier. (Indeed today it appears that they have reached the Hungarian frontier, created or recreated last autumn in the S.E. corner of Slovakia). He spoke with more bitterness than before of the Russian offers refused disdainfully in the Spring and said army would have collapsed the cardboard Polish it was perhaps as well for Russia. If they had been accepted the cardboard Polish army would have collapsed and the Russians would have had to bear the brunt of the fight while it was being announced that all was calm on the western front. Not very convincing He gave a start when I remarked that it had a touch of poetical justice that Poland shd be attacked in the rear by Russia just as Poland had atacked Czecho- Slovakia. He had been so eloquent abot the former. To the question as to whether R wd remain neutral in the general conflict as she had said he replied why not, seeing that she has now the fruits of a war without difficulty. "France and Britain smashed collective security and now it is released all kinds of national claims and ambitions and now it is everyone for himself and the devil take the hindmost" The Duke of Windsor has gone back to England after three years to ^exile.^ I met him and Her last July when they unexpectedly visited the Palais des Nations. I was Acting S.G and on a Sunday afternoon was digging in garden when the official on duty called me up. Was tempted to let it pass but put on a suit and went over. Liked him; very natural and with his training asked lots of questions mostly personal. Told him I was Irish and he wanted to place me. Spoke of the cost of the buildings and I said it was less than the Parliament of Belfast, a subordinate institution as compared with a Parliament for 50 nations. "Ah, yes, I opened that place and I remember there was some talk about the cost. I said there were many slums in Belfast!. Typical. She was pleasant and reserved. I had that rare feeling that I was prejudiced against her The "lately" Mrs Simpson was quiet, apparently cultivated, & not undistinguished looking. I had almost the unfortunate impression of, "lady-like" or genteel. A great courtesan, no doubt. I liked him, as I say, & reflected (as a compliment) that I should enjoy an evening's talk with him. He is of course extremely well-informed. I had always thought of him as likely to be the best monarch England had had: in fact he nearly wrecked the monarchy, I suspect he is still in touch with bad counsellors - witness that broadcast to USA on the eve of poor George's vital reset last Spring.
English Translation
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