Office of the Historian

124.60F/37a: Telegram

The Acting Secretary of State to the Minister in Czechoslovakia (Carr)

Washington, March 20, 1939—11 a.m.

19. In view of the situation as set forth in your telegram of March 17th, you are directed to close the Legation at Praha;90 to turn over the Government building, property and archives to the Consulate [Page 56] General; and at your convenience to leave Praha. A separate message containing detailed administrative instructions will be sent you.91

The President has requested me to express to you his particular appreciation of the highly distinguished service you have rendered the Government as Minister to Czechoslovakia. I desire also in the name of the Secretary of State as well as in my own to evidence our recognition of the exceptional work you have done under circumstances of peculiar difficulty. The services you have rendered are a matter of pride to the entire Foreign Service with which you have been closely connected over a period of so many years.

I am giving this telegram, together with your March 17th, to the press at noon today.

Welles
  1. The Minister in Czechoslovakia reported in telegram No. 61, March 21, 5 p.m.: “The Legation closed today as instructed”. (124.60F/38)↩
  2. Telegram No. 20, March 20, noon, not printed.↩