800.51 W 89 Czechoslovakia/51
The Chargé in Czechoslovakia (Pearson) to the Secretary of State
[Received May 18.]
Sir: Referring to my telegram No. 23 of April 30, 4 p.m. that the Minister for Foreign Affairs had informed me that the Debt Commission had been empowered to negotiate concerning the repayment of the Czechoslovak indebtedness to the United States, I have the honor to transmit herewith copies of Dr. Beneš note to that effect, as well as of the Pleins Pouvoirs16 authorizing the Commission to settle the amount of these debts. It will be observed that the Pleins Pouvoirs do not empower the Commission to discuss the terms of repayment. Dr. Beneš personally informed me that this Commission was intended to obviate any confusion which might arise from including, in a document granting “full powers”, conditions limiting those powers.
Dr. Beneš states in his accompanying note that the Czech Commission is authorized to negotiate the conditions of repayment but that the result of these negotiations must be subject to the approval of this government. This approval, as set forth in Dr. Beneš’ Aide Memoire transmitted with the Legation’s despatch No. 400 of March 22nd,17 depends in part on the consent of the French and Italian Governments. To my inquiry whether this consent had been given Dr. Beneš stated that the Italian Government had not yet replied and that the French had requested time for further deliberation.
I expressed to the Minister the gratification of the United States Government at the decision reached, adding that I sincerely hoped nothing might interfere with the conclusion of an arrangement which would be satisfactory and advantageous to both countries. He expressed similar sentiments and declared that it was probable that Mr. Jan Masaryk (see Legation’s despatch No. 424 of April 17th16) might be added to the Commission when negotiations for repayment began.
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I have [etc.]