142.14/2427: Telegram
The Ambassador in Italy (Phillips) to the Secretary of State
[Received June 26—3:20 p.m.]
234. I have just received the following communication dated June 22, from the Slovak Minister to Italy:11
“Lacking other channels I permit myself to address Your Excellency personally requesting that you intervene with the competent authorities of the United States in the following matter:
The United States customs authorities require of our exporters that merchandise originating in Slovakia be marked ‘made in Germany’. The Slovak exporters are unable to comply with any such requirement in view of the fact that Slovakia is an independent country from the political as well as from the economic point of view and is not bound to Germany other than by a treaty of friendship and guarantee such as have often been concluded in recent times. The Slovak Government, by governmental decision of March 14th last, declared that it would maintain in force all the international agreements concluded by the Czechoslovak Republic. Consequently as far as concerns Slovakia there remains in effect also the commercial agreements entered into between the United States of America and Czechoslovakia.12
Furthermore the Slovak Republic has not entered into a customs union with Germany; it has its own national bank and its money—the Slovak crown.
The Slovak Government earnestly desires not only to continue to maintain the good relations which have so happily developed between my country and the United States but also to strengthen them as much as possible.”
I have refrained from entering into official relations with the Slovak Minister and should consequently appreciate having the Department’s instructions concerning the response which should be made to his letter.
- Miloslav Josef Zvrškovec.↩
- Reciprocal Trade Agreement signed March 7, 1938, and Agreement with Respect to Motion Picture Films, signed May 18, 1938. For correspondence see Foreign Relations, 1938, vol. ii, pp. 223 ff., and pp. 231 ff.; for texts see Executive Agreement Series No. 147 and No. 126, or 53 Stat. 2293 and 52 Stat 1517.↩