840.50 UNRRA/10–245: Telegram
The Ambassador in Czechoslovakia (Steinhardt) to the Secretary of State
[Received 10:30 p.m.]
408. Detailed evidence has been submitted to me today indicating that the Soviet military forces occupying Brno, the second largest city in Czechoslovakia, have been receiving substantial quantities of UNRRA food shipments to Czechoslovakia. The evidence establishes [Page 1032] that between July 31 and August 11, 238 cases of canned meat were delivered to the Soviet military authorities in Brno by the “Treasurer for the Cattle and Meat Markets”, a non-profit cooperative organization of all of the meat dealers of the city created by the Germans during their occupation of Brno and now operated by a national administrator for the Czechoslovak Government. My informant states that it is “common knowledge” in Brno that substantial quantities of UNRRA supplies intended for Czechoslovakia are sent to the Soviet Union either before or after they reach the city and that there is every reason to believe that an arrangement was made some time ago between the food authorities in Brno and the Soviet Forces of Occupation under which the city is exempted from part of the fresh meat deliveries to the Soviet Army which would otherwise be required in exchange for the delivery to the Soviet armed forces over a period of time of UNRRA canned meat. My informant added that although the local press in Brno has repeatedly given publicity to “Soviet contributions to UNRRA” he doubts that all of public have been misled in view of fact that public recognizes packaging of UNRRA supplies as of American rather than Soviet origin.
I should appreciate the Department’s instructions as to whether it is within my province to bring foregoing to attention of either Soviet Chief of UNRRA Mission in Praha or the Czechoslovak Government.