124.60F3/3–1149: Telegram

The Secretary of State to the Embassy in Czechoslovakia

secret

333. Appreciate thoroughly security problem urtel 321 Mar 111 recd Mar 13 caused by Czecho police activity against Emb and agree this pressure will no doubt increase since it represents characteristic feature developments in satellite countries. Nevertheless on basis experience in all curtain countries to date we advise against more positive action along lines suggested reftel considering it:

1.
wld not serve to prevent or reduce police efforts;
2.
might encourage measures retaliation against alien employees as you indicate;
3.
wld probably lead to more harmful than beneficial results from standpoint successful counteraction by driving police activities underground.

Believed preferable to let police action remain in open where we will have some knowledge of it and where something can consequently be done to counter it. As to development countermeasures security officer Praha-Vienna area should furnish specific suggestions based on his judgment and experience with local conditions.

Acheson
  1. Supra.