Office of the Historian

840.50 UNRRA/11–2845: Telegram

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

Praha, November 28, 1945—7 p.m.
[Received November 30—7:45 a.m.]

641. For the Dept and Director General Lehman of UNRRA from Richard Brown. A report received from the Czech Government concerning the alleged transfer of unrationed meat to the Soviet Army confirms the fact that 10,000 pounds of unrationed meat were transfered to the Soviet and Rumanian armies in Brno. At the time the transfer was made inadequate instructions had been given [for distributing?]37 UNRRA supplies.

The report of the Czech Government although similar in many respects to the [independent investigation made by Mission’s staff]38 which was facilitated by the Government does not satisfy me as I regard the report as inadequate.

Alexejev and I have conferred with Nemec39 and Schlesinger of the Ministry of Food with respect to the inadequacy of the report.

Alexejev and I have also addressed a strong letter to the Minister of [Food]39a pointing out the incomplete aspects of the report and insisting that improved investigating and accounting facilities in connection with the distribution of UNRRA supplies be instituted immediately.

[Page 1044]

In view of the steps now being taken by the Government to instruct the handlers of UNRRA supplies in proper principles governing their distribution and the obvious desire of the Government to cooperate in developing a satisfactory, equitable and efficient distribution and that no recurrence of the Brno incident is to be anticipated, I recommend that this incident be regarded as closed.

Copies of the Government report, of the UNRRA [Mission] report and of our letter to the Minister for Food are being airmailed to you.40

Sent to Department; repeated to AmEmbassy London for Lt. General Sir Humphrey Gale of UNRRA as 95. [Richard Brown.]

Steinhardt
  1. Bracketed insertion appears in file copy of this telegram.↩
  2. This and subsequent insertions made on basis of the text of this message sent to Ambassador Steinhardt by Mr. Brown, November 27, for transmission to Director General Lehman and Lieutenant General Gale.↩
  3. Frantisek Nemec, President of the Czechoslovak Office of Relief and Rehabilitation.↩
  4. Vaclav Majer.↩
  5. None of these documents found in Department files.↩