711.60F/3–2449: Telegram

The Ambassador in Czechoslovakia ( Jacobs ) to the Secretary of State

secret

397. Possible Department has noticed from Embtels during past few weeks two definite but contradictory currents in Czechoslovak attitude toward the US.

On one hand, Foreign Office and officials of other ministries concerned with commercial and economic affairs have been making special efforts to resolve outstanding cases and problems and to otherwise improve relationships. For instance, agreement to release truck and contents,1 release of Goodale,2 decision to allow staff to retain its recreational chalet, return of Vilen’s3 passport and settlement his case which has been pending almost a year, encouraging news that Hvasta4 case may be settled soon, satisfactory arrangements to date re settlement of claims, cordial and friendly treatment of army’s purchasing group, more expeditious and conciliatory assistance in Embassy staff housing problems, permission to distribute magazine Amerika,5 and belated apologies in Pazourek, and Foster-Vaclavik cases.6

On other hand, security police seem to be intensifying their efforts to be nasty and to circumscribe our activities. For instance, refusal permit Embassy representative interview two soldiers,7 apparent determination try them on some trumped-up charge, increasing efforts, by bribery and threats, to compel alien employees to breach Embassy’s [Page 391] security, great increase in number of attempted “plants” by letter and telephone to inveigle members of staff into meeting alleged “patriots” who will reveal government secrets (apparently to find some weakling who can be arrested on an espionage charge), increasing efforts, through intimidation, to prevent Czechoslovaks from frequenting our reading room and library, and closing all but one border point of entry and exit for auto traffic between Czechoslovakia and Germany.

While developments in each individual case are doubtless influenced by special and sometimes complicated factors, it is evident that there is broad conflict in government. Activities of security organs, which have great power, ample funds, excessive zeal, and probably direct Soviet influence and directives, often obviously embarrass other ministries of government, particularly those concerned with economic matters, which are doing best to maintain relations with west essential to Czechoslovakia. It is evidently to our interest to hamper and slow down as far as possible growth of security organs influence. To this end we should react strongly in cases in which security organs obviously have upper hand, such as that of two soldiers. On other hand, we should be quick to reciprocate in cases in which security organs have obviously been vetoed, and in addition give the non-security agencies some ammunition to support thesis that dealing with US on reasonable basis is mutually profitable. This involves careful calculation of scope and intensity of retaliation in each instance as well as judicious use of accommodating gestures by us.

In absence of comment to contrary, Embassy will assume Department is in general agreement with above and our recommendations and/or action in individual cases will be based thereon.

Department please pass to Army.

Sent Department 397, repeated Heidelberg 41, Berlin 39.

Jacobs
  1. In late January 1949, an American truck accidentally crossed into Czechoslovakia from the American zone of occupation in Germany and was seized by Czechoslovak authorities. Following repeated protests by the Embassy in Praha, the Czechoslovak Foreign Ministry on March 9 agreed to release the truck and its cargo.
  2. Ronald Goodale, an American citizen, was arrested by Czechoslovak customs officials in late December 1948 as he was departing following a visit to Czechoslovakia. Goodale was convicted by a Czechoslovak court in early March of violations of laws regarding the attempted removal of property from Czechoslovakia. He was fined and allowed to leave the country.
  3. Victor A. Vilen (Velen?), a naturalized American citizen, was deprived of his passport by Czechoslovak authorities in late December 1948. Following repeated Embassy representations, Vilen’s passport was returned and he departed from the country.
  4. Jan Hvasta, an American citizen and a former employee of the American Consulate General in Bratislava, was arrested by the Czechoslovak police in late 1948 along with two Czechoslovak citizens, one of whom had also once been employed by the Consulate General. Access to Hvasta by the Embassy or Consulate General was steadfastly denied by Czechoslovak authorities. The Embassy eventually learned that Hvasta and the two Czechoslovaks had been convicted of espionage in a secret trial held in Bratislava at the end of May 1949. Hvasta was sentenced to three years in jail.
  5. Regarding the question of the magazine Amerika, see telegram 142, February 4, to Praha, p. 383.
  6. Regarding the Pazourek and Vaelavik cases, see footnote 3 to telegram 17, January 4, to Berlin, p. 381.
  7. The reference here is to the case of George R. Jones and Clarence R. Hill; see editorial note, infra.