On of the most recent of his Radio Four series on Russia (“The Wild East”) Martin Sixsmith quite casually mentioned that in May 1945, Churchill had floated plans for invading Russia. I must confess I had not previously heard of this, presumably it was revealed under a war-sensitive extension to the 30-year act (hiding some of its significance under the impact of the collapse of the Soviet Union); it certainly has not sparked off the sort of discussion it merits. It is an interesting insight into the double-dealing of so-called democratic politicians. The people of Britain were after all still being told that good old Uncle Joe [Stalin] was our firm ally. In the general election then going on, the Tories used (in working class areas) a book claiming that the alliance with Uncle Joe was essential for the future and accusing all other parties – including the CP [Communist Party] – of having Trotskyist tendencies. Also: one wonders how the Cairo mutiny [of the land, sea and air forces of the Greek government-in-exile] would have spread if this had been known at the time.
Topics: Foreign policy