800.51W89 Czechoslovakia/178: Telegram
The Chargé in Czechoslovakia (Hibbard) to the Secretary of State
[Received May 28—10:20 a.m.]
21. Department’s telegram 19, May 24. I have had an interview with the Acting Minister for Foreign Affairs who informs me:
“The Czechoslovak Government is disposed in principle to sign the agreement, but for reasons of internal politics prefer to wait until other powers have agreed.”
He further informed me, confidentially, that this appeared to be only a matter of a few days and that instructions would be promptly sent to the Czechoslovak Minister in Washington before the expiration of the time limit. While he did not say so, this obviously means that Czechoslovakia is waiting until France signs. When this signature has become generally known here I believe there will be no difficulty whatever in negotiating the desired agreement with this country.