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3.6.41 [George Orwell]

June 3, 2011 in Australia, Crete, Cyprus, Germans, Greece, Latakia, Political, Syria, War-time, aeroplanes, newspapers, press, ships by orwelldiaries

Now that the evacuation of Crete is completed, there is talk of 20,000 men having been removed. Obviously, therefore, they must have begun clearing out long before this was admitted in the press, and the ships sunk were probably lost in that operation. Total losses will presumably be about 10,000 men, 7 warships (3 cruisers, 4 destroyers), [1] probably some merchant ships as well, a good many AA guns, and a few tanks and aeroplanes. And all this for absolutely nothing…The newspapers criticise more boldly than they have ever done hitherto. One of the Australian papers says openly that it is no use trying to defend Cyprus unless we are taking action against Syria. No sign of this, apparently. Reports this morning that the Germans have already landed armoured units at Latakia.[2] Together with this, vague hints that the British “may” invade Syria. Within a few days it may be too late, if it is not six months too late already.

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12.4.41 [George Orwell]

April 12, 2011 in French Africa, Germany, Libya, Political, Vichy France, War-time, fish, fishmonger, french, perch, press by orwelldiaries

The idea that the German troops in Libya, or some of them, got there via French ships and French African territory, is readily accepted by everyone that one suggests it to. Absolutely no mention of any such possibility in the press, however. Perhaps they are still being instructed to pipe down on criticisms of Vichy France.

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22.8.40 [George Orwell]

August 22, 2010 in Beaverbrook, David Low, Evening Standard, GPU, Low, Political, Popular Front, Portman Square, Russia, Trotsky, Trotsky's murder, War-time, cab, horse, newspapers, press by orwelldiaries

The Beaverbrook press, compared with the headlines I saw on other papers, seems to be playing down the suggestion that Trotsky’s murder was carried out by the G.P.U[1]. In fact today’s Evening Standard, with several separate items about Trotsky, didn’t mention this suggestion. No doubt they still have their eye on Russia and want to placate the Russians at all costs, in spite of Low’s cartoons[2]. But under this there may lie a much subtler manoeuvre. The men responsible for the Standard’s present pro-Russian policy are no doubt shrewd enough to know that a Popular Front “line” is not really the way to secure a Russian alliance. But they also know that the mass of leftish opinion in England still takes it for granted that a full anti-fascist policy is the way to line up Russia on our side. To crack up Russia is therefore a way of pushing public opinion leftward. It is curious that I always attribute these devious motives to other people, being anything but cunning myself and finding it hard to use indirect methods even when I see the need for them.

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29.6.40 [George Orwell]

June 29, 2010 in Charles de Gaulle, Petain, Political, War-time, advertising, freedom of the press, newspapers, press by orwelldiaries

The British government has recognised de Gaulle[1], but apparently in some equivocal manner, i.e. it has not stated that it will not recognise the Pétain government.

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