760F.62/1346: Telegram
The Chargé in the Soviet Union (Kirk) to the Secretary of State
[Received September 30—11:20 a.m.]
328. I have just seen the Czechoslovak Minister here and there was no restraint in the bitterness of his denunciation of what he called the betrayal of his country by Great Britain and France. He said that the terms agreed upon in Munich constitute the destruction of the independence of Czechoslovakia and that an acceptance thereof by the Praha Government would arouse such a storm of resentment in Czechoslovakia that the gravest internal disturbances would ensue and would offer Germany the occasion to complete the occupation of the country. On the other hand he professed to have no illusions as to the consequences of a rejection of the proposals followed by armed resistance, although he mentioned the possibility of an appeal to the President or to the League. He expressed pessimism as to the efficacy of the aid which Czechoslovakia might expect from abroad in such an eventuality. He questioned even the practical benefits of Soviet aid in the present circumstances and did not repeat the conviction which he had expressed on previous occasions that the Soviet Union would fulfill its treaty obligations to the best of its ability. The Minister added that in view of the dilemma with which his Government was confronted he was making no recommendations to Praha and professed ignorance as to its probable course.