Office of the Historian

840.50 UNRRA/10–2645: Telegram

The Secretary of State to the Ambassador in Czechoslovakia (Steinhardt)

Washington, October 26, 1945—8 p.m.

337. Urtel 330, Sep 10. General situation regarding distribution of UNRRA supplies has been called to attn of Gov. Lehman who agreed to take immediate steps as reported in Deptel 252, Sep 21. Report in urtel 408, Oct 2, also called officially to attn UNRRA Washington with request that action be taken to prevent diversion of UNRRA supplies to Soviet forces. UNRRA has appointed Richard Brown as deputy to Soviet chief of UNRRA mission, Praha, with instructions to report directly to Gov. Lehman on UNRRA situation in Zecho and to supervise UNRRA observers in field.

Although action may ultimately be taken by UNRRA to correct abuses in distribution and prevent misrepresentation of source of supply, Dept considers that important political principle is involved in claiming unilateral credit for an international undertaking and in diversion of supplies. Dept considers this particularly important in view of your reports on state of Zecho public opinion. You are therefore requested in your discretion to bring facts reported in your 330 informally to attention of chief of UNRRA mission and call to his attn principles enunciated in various resolutions on policy of first session of UNRRA council, as well as specific provisions of Zecho–UNRRA agreement of 26 Feb 194517 providing for Zecho Govt responsibility for distribution and outlining precise powers and functions of UNRRA field mission. You may suggest that chief of mission issue a public statement to the effect that incorrect info has been circulated concerning source of UNRRA supplies, stating that you propose also to bring it to attn Zecho Govt and, if situation not corrected, you will be forced to consider taking such steps as may be necessary. If he refuses to make such a statement, as Dept anticipates, you may make similar informal request of Zecho Govt for its views concerning operation of Zecho–UNRRA agreement. If adequate statements or explanations are not forthcoming Dept would appreciate your views whether any further appropriate action may be taken.

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Reurtel 408, please follow this up so far as possible to obtain additional info and also advise whether sources info should be protected.

Byrnes
  1. For text, see Woodbridge, UNRRA, vol. iii, p. 271.↩