860F.01/11–245: Telegram
The Secretary of State to the Ambassador in Czechoslovakia (Steinhardt)
357. Following is message sent by President Truman to Stalin concerning the simultaneous withdrawal of forces from Zecho:
“As you know, ever since the time when the late President Wilson intimately associated himself with the liberation of Zecho from Habsburg rule, my country has followed with deep and sympathetic interest the struggle of the Zecho people for national independence and economic security. We have always admired the diligence displayed by the Zecho state in constructing democratic institutions and in contributing to the peaceful international life in the European family of states.
In the last days of the war, the American army crossed the western frontier of Zecho in pursuit of our common enemy and advanced to a line north of Plzen, while the Red army, fighting valiantly from the east, entered the city of Praha. The armies of the Soviet Union and the United States thus carried out the liberation of Zecho. Since the close of hostilities, the armed forces of our two countries have remained on Zecho territory in order to assist the Zecho people in the elimination of the remnants of the Nazi forces.
The continued presence of Allied troops, however, is proving to be a great drain on Zecho economic resources and is delaying the normal recovery and rehabilitation of this Allied state which remained longer under Nazi domination than any other member of the United Nations. I therefore desire to withdraw the American forces from Zecho territory by Dec 1, 1945. In the absence of a similar intention on the part of the Soviet Govt, there will still remain in Zecho a large number of [Page 507] Red army soldiers. I should therefore like to propose to you that the Red army be withdrawn simultaneously with our forces.
Since there is no longer any necessity to protect the Zecho people against any Nazi depredations, and since the presence of our troops undoubtedly constitutes a drain on their economy, I also feel that the American forces should be withdrawn as soon as practicable in order to permit the Zecho people to reap the full benefits of the assistance being given to them by the United Nations Relief and Rehabilitation Administration and other agencies. By the simultaneous withdrawal of both Soviet and American forces from Zecho, the American people would be assured that the drain on Zecho resources had ceased.
I hope that you can give consideration to my proposal and that, in withdrawing our forces simultaneously, we can announce to the world our intention of removing any obstacle which delays the recovery of the Zecho state.”
You may in your discretion communicate this message to President Beneš.