July 31: We have had several meetings of leading ministers, but no solution seems likely about Churchill. If he persists, the nation — esp the left and moderate left — will be on his side. He will break up the cabinet and the Conservative party. But he will not mind this. His present mood is so self-centred as to amount almost to mania.

“You cannot ask me,” says Churchill (these are his very words), “to sign my death warrant.” All of us, who really have loved as well as admired him, are being slowly driven into something like hatred.

His performance in the Suez debate (on the future of British troops in Egypt) was terrible. If he talks much more in this strain, the whole country will go defeatist and prefer to surrender to communism.

Dec 22: A very queer (ministerial) meeting took place at 3pm . . . to discuss how long Churchill should stay. He now suggests July 1955! Eden is in despair.

Jan 20, 1955: Discussion about the West Indian immigrants. PM thinks “Keep England White” a good slogan!

Jan 26: Churchill rang at 9am (and) asked me to go round to No 10. I found him in bed, with a little green “budgerigar” sitting on his head! A very strange sight. A whisky and soda was by his side — of this, the little bird took sips later on.

At last, Churchill told Eden that he was prepared to retire. Or was he?

Feb 25: He is now trying to run out of his engagement with Anthony! Poor old man! He can be the nicest, noblest, kindest of men. He can be unscrupulous, with a child’s lack of any sense of doing wrong.

March 12: Dulles (the American secretary of state) and Eisenhower have had an idea . . . a visit to Paris of President Eisenhower, Adenauer (the West German chancellor) and Churchill. The date wd be May 8 — the 10th anniversary of VE Day. There would be a tremendous jamboree.

It was obvious that all this wd excite Winston tremendously — and it has done so. According to AE he immediately withdrew his offer to resign on April 5. He must — in the interest of the nation and the world — continue in office.

March 13: In order to get one move ahead in this desperate attempt to hold on to power, he has made a submission to the Queen — presumably about inviting the (American) president to London. This is smart work! It is almost a form of advanced megalomania.

March 16: Cabinet. A reply from our ambassador in Washington made it clear the president was not thinking of high-level talks with Russia. Churchill made a gesture of disappointment. The crisis is over.

March 17: PM seemed rather low. He will retire before Easter.

April 4: Now that he has really decided to go, we are all miserable! Happily, we shall forget the past few months and we shall only remember the greatness and grandeur of this unique man. He will be ranked as the greatest of all Englishmen.