Tuesday 9th
Am reading ‘Between the lines’—a book on the newspaper propaganda, by D-T (Mr. Denys Thompson, late master here)—very good. … zbp zpg znw
Saturday 13th
I went down to town, bought a book ‘Red Star over China’ by Edgar Snow, about Chinese communists and the Red Army there. zbp
… to the dentist, the hole I went for wasn’t; but she found two others … zmt
Then up to the Pentire to help Cook work the projector for a school film ‘The Lady vanishes’. A good film, if melodramatic in parts, and the only hitch was a bust last reel. Then putting things away. … zfm
Sunday 14th
… I read Somerset Maugham’s ‘Cakes and Ale’—a good but not great novel, during chapel. … zbn
Not good news—Russians pushed back from Kharkov. Oh God—if there was one. zru zlb
I am wondering about Communism. I agree with most of its ethical concepts, I think I agree that ends justify means, and I think men can judge that; but I am not so sure about, for instance, their attitude to family life. I do believe a form of it holds the future. But I don’t entirely identify the British Communist party with Communism. Life is somewhat complex but worth living. zpn zem
Thursday 18th
… Heard from Cheltenham. … I’m in commission [group] on ‘Planning in the USSR’. Am looking forward to this a lot. zic zru
Argument with Mullins—he favoured Franco because he might restore the monarchy — anger overcame my reason somewhat. zag zpn zem
Friday 19th
… House game, junior team and others, quite good but very hot and too long. zsp
