Joseph E. Davies, Mission to Moscow. March 14, 1937
Marjorie [Ambassador Davies’ wife] went to Madame Molotov’s luncheon. It was quite extraordinary-a group of wives of the commissars, all of whom are actively engaged as engineers, doctors, or factory managers.
Madame Molotov, wife of the Premier, is a Member of Cabinet and has been Commissar for Fisheries and is now Commissar for Cosmetics. She is a very extraordinary woman, The manner in which she has established these very chic perfume shops and cosmetic beauty parlors indicates a great deal of executive direction. She and the rest of these serious-minded women who are engineers, physicians, etc., found great interest in Marjorie, particularly in the fact that a woman of her type should be so much interested in serious business matters and should herself be “a working-woman.” This idea of having a “hen luncheon” is something most novel in Soviet experience, as I am advised. So I’ve asked Marjorie to dictate her account of it while it is fresh in her mind. Here it is:
“The day we went through the factory (one of four she runs) making fine perfumes, creams, etc., Mme Molotov asked us to lunch with her. We accepted with pleasure, but had no idea what a rare and interesting experience we were in for. The day arrived and off we went-an hour in the country in Rublova Woods, way past several large villas, and finally the green fence and guards came into view. Gate was open, and en route to house we saw many more guards.
“House modern, large (but by no means a palace either in or out), rather plain. Good taste-ample, but not furnished in a cozy or “lived-in” manner, though in every way adequate. Entrance hall, big stairs, dressing rooms, etc. Living room spacious. No photos or bric-a-brac. Dining room large with huge casement windows. Table decorated in cyclamen-at least 3″ each. Standing on floor around room were eight or ten potted lilacs-white and lavender, fine big heads and full of flowers.
I was on Mme Molotov’s right–Mrs. Kennan wife of an Embassy Secretary-Miss Wells-Mme Kubar- Mme Krestinskii-Mme Stomoniakov. The table was filled with hors d’oeuvres. Luncheon was elaborate and many courses-three kinds of meat-six kinds of fish-one very special, a snub-nosed little thing about eight inches long-very good, and comes from the Volga River. I had to eat regardless of the Embassy doctor’s warning-so I did, at length. (They all have an enmity to the animals, but we Americans are used to inspected and sterilized food!) The whole atmosphere was very cordial-very anxious to have us have a good time-and we did, but OH! if only one could speak the language. Through an interpreter it is difficult, to say the least.
“An interesting reaction to the luncheon came upon my return. I found Joe in the library with one of the newsmen who was greatly astounded upon learning where we had been and asked dozens of questions. Then, at dinner that evening at the Belgian Legation, I was sitting next to the British Ambassador, Lord Chilston, who nearly burst with excitement over my story of our luncheon-inquiring two or three times, ‘Where did you say this luncheon was?’ Then, after he had satisfied himself that it was Mme Molotov and it was at her dacha, he said, ‘You Americans are remarkable! I have been here seven years and haven’t been able to get so much as a toe in their house-and you come and after only a few weeks you have a luncheon given there in your honor. I don’t understand it!”
Source: Joseph E. Davies, Mission to Moscow (New York: Simon and Schuster, 1941), pp. 113-114.