611.60F31/106a: Telegram

The Secretary of State to the Minister in Czechoslovakia ( Wright )

20. You are requested to prepare in consultation with the Commercial Attaché and mail as soon as possible (1) a short discussion of the operation of the temporary agreement dated March 29, 1935, showing (a) whether the Czech Government has in fact lived up to the terms of that agreement, and (b) which commodities have benefited by the operation of that agreement and which commodities have not; (2) a summary of discriminations against principal items of American trade including quotas and exchange allotments practiced by Czechoslovakia whether by officials or private agencies with such [Page 156] evidence as is available. Czechoslovakia’s interpretation of “fair and equitable treatment” was defined in its confidential note of March 29, 1935, a copy of which was sent you. If you encounter serious difficulty in obtaining material for these digests because the Government refuses information as to global quotas, please inform the Department by cable.

It is not desired to give any publicity whatsoever to the fact that preliminary discussions with the Czechoslovak Legation will soon be undertaken for the purpose of determining whether in fact a basis exists for a trade agreement.

Hull