The Henson Journals
Mon 7 April 1930
Volume 49, Page 194
[194]
Monday, April 7th, 1930.
The King spoke last night with almost bitter repugnance about his having to receive the Russian Ambassador – "The man looks like a little dirty Jewish clerk". His "wife" has three husbands living, & what her real relation to her "husband" actually is appears to be very doubtful. But he is enamoured with her, & she serves as an agent of the Cheka, to watch him. "If I give a Garden Party, all the ambassadors & their wives must come to my tent: and the Queen will have to receive her". His Majesty's disgust was eloquent.
I breakfasted with the Household, and then left the Castle. In town I visited the hair–dresser and the book–seller, & then took the 1.15 p.m. express from King's Cross to Darlington. My carriage was shared by a large conversational man, who, he informed me, was on his way to Newcastle in order to inspect the industrial schools. I gave him a copy of my pamphlet on "Church & State in England". I think he said that his name was Scooly. It was something that sounded like that!