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Although Records talks of the everyday events from home, he is often drawn into speculation of events in Europe. On Monday 15 July he writes -
'I have read the papers diligently of late concerning the Italian Abyssinia dispute. Apparently Italy is having trouble over water supplies and in sea port towns have had to ration her troops to two pints of water per day. Definite declaration of war is almost certain to be after the League of Nations conference. Up to this water incident Mussolini has almost assured every nation that he means to subdue Abyssinia hook or by crook. England has an eye on railways in that country, and is one of the most if not the most adverse nation to Mussolini's activities. French are for Italy. The Suez has come in to it. England has suggested an article for ships carrying Italian articles of war, the refusal of admittance or passage through the canal. England holds the most shares in the canal but the French police it. A bubble is growing over Europe. How long before it bursts [?].'
The British Fleet in Alexandria during the Abyssinian Crisis, 1935. (RNM)
He also accounts how he saw Nazi flags flying in German ships on Tuesday 24 September -
'I saw another one of the new Nazi (German) flags hoisted on a German ship. All red, white centre with a black swastika on the white centre. Hoisted about 3 or 4 days ago for the first time in place of the black, white and red horizontal bars.'
