611.60F31/597a: Telegram
The Secretary of State to the Minister in Czechoslovakia (Carr)
13. It is hoped that the trade agreement will be signed the early part of next week.9 Agreement has been reached on all questions except exposed motion pictures and the two delegations are now comparing the final texts in both languages. The Czech delegation has taken the position that exposed motion pictures are not, because of their nature, properly a subject for inclusion in a trade agreement and have asked that the question be covered by separate negotiations and agreement. We can not accept the idea that exposed motion pictures are not proper subject for a trade agreement, but to have insisted on its inclusion in the agreement would have considerably prolonged the negotiations, and for obvious reasons both sides are anxious to have the agreement signed. We have therefore agreed to separate negotiations for exposed motion pictures and, since the Czech delegation seems to have no authority, Culbertson10 is proceeding to Praha, leaving on the Washington, March 9. He will arrive in Praha about March 22 and will wish to get into discussions at the earliest possible moment. While the Czech delegation has informed its government of Culbertson’s plans, I suggest you take up the question with the Foreign Office and make any necessary arrangements. While there will be no formal American delegation I suggest that upon Culbertson’s arrival you can work out with him the question of who should participate in the discussions.