Foreign Relations of the United States: Diplomatic Papers, 1944, Europe, Volume IV

860f.01/541: Telegram

The Chargé in the Soviet Union (Hamilton) to the Secretary of State

Moscow, May 9, 1944.
[Received May 10—10:37 a.m.]

1630. Moscow papers for May 9 announce the agreement with Czechoslovakia for relations between the Soviet Commander-in-Chief and the Czechoslovak administration after the entry of Soviet troops into Czechoslovak territory was signed in London on May 8⁵⁷ by the Soviet Ambassador to Czechoslovakia V. Z. Lebedev and the Acting Czechoslovak Foreign Minister G. [H.] Ripka.

The text of the agreement as published in today’s press is identical with the text of the draft agreement as announced by Vyshinsky in his press conference on April 30.⁵⁸

A Tass despatch from London refers to Ripka’s and Masaryk’s statements on the conclusion of the agreement.

Ripka is reported as expressing deep satisfaction with the attitude of the Soviet Government toward the wishes of the Czechs and toward Czech laws in signing the pact. Masaryk is reported as stating in Philadelphia that until the end of the war the fate of Germany must remain in the hands of the General commanding the Allied armies and their remarkable Russian allies. The war must end once and for all outbreaks of new aggression.

The leading article in Izvestiya for May 9 is devoted to the signature of the agreement. It emphasizes that the outstanding characteristic of the conversations was that the wishes of the Czechoslovak democratic government were taken fully into account by the Soviet Government and that as a result it was not necessary to introduce any changes into the draft. It states that the British and American Governments were consulted and expressed no objection to the draft prior to the signature of the agreement. The remainder of the article emphasizes that the new agreement is another link in the development of friendly relations between the Soviet Union and Czechoslovakia. It reviews the various steps in the development of this friendship and quotes expressions of satisfaction which have appeared in the Czechoslovak and foreign press. This comment stresses the good will displayed by the Soviet Union in recognition the independence of countries liberated by its armed forces and in permitting the authorities of such countries to resume their administrative functions as soon us hostilities are terminated in any area.

The agreement, continues the article, is now evidence of the consistent and principled policy of the Soviet Union in relation to small states fighting at the side of the major Allies against Germany imperialism. It flows directly from the great liberating mission which is being performed by the Red Army. It keeps step with the Soviet troops in their advance across the Carpathians where the suffering peoples await them. The task of the anti-Hitler coalition headed by the great powers, the Soviet Union, the United States and Great Britain, is to liberate the Allied peoples of Western Europe and trap the German beast in his lair. This task can be accomplished only by the joint efforts of the United Nations. The new agreement is an important contribution in uniting the forces of the democratic countries directed toward the speedy accomplishment of this historic task.

Hamilton

57. For text, see Louise W. Holborn (ed.), War and Peace Aims of the United Nations, vol. ii, 1943–1945 (Boston, 1948), p. 767.
58. The draft of this agreement by the Czech Government was given to the United States, the United Kingdom, and the Soviet Union during March. The Soviet Government accepted it without change on April 15, following which the United States and the United Kingdom concurred.