860F.01/4–1845: Telegram

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

1243. Desire of Beneš28 to announce upon his return to Czechoslovakia transfer of German minorities was subject of note dated April 11 from British Ambassador29 to Molotov.30 Clark Kerr stated Beneš in London did not dispute British view that final decision on German minorities should await agreement on entire German settlement among major allies. Churchill and Eden31 told Beneš that American, British and Soviet Governments had not yet achieved agreement on German question and that if he felt he must issue statement it should be evident that it was no more than his proposal.

Beneš had, however, on his recent visit here32 told Clark Kerr that he had received the assent of the Soviet Government to the expulsion from Czechoslovakia of about two-thirds of Hungarian and German minorities. Embassy inquires whether this was so and did Russians give Benes impression that Benes might announce Soviet attitude.

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British hoped Russians could admonish Benes not to act prematurely and drastically in matters which would complicate German issues which Soviet and British Governments will have to deal with.

Sent to Department as 1243, repeated to London as 163.

Kennan
  1. Eduard Beneš, President of Czechoslovakia.
  2. Sir Archibald Clark Kerr.
  3. Vyacheslav Mikhailovieh Molotov, People’s Commissar for Foreign Affairs of the Soviet Union.
  4. Anthony Eden, British Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs.
  5. President Beneš visited Moscow from March 17 to March 31, 1945. For documentation regarding the visit, see vol. iv, pp. 427433. In his telegram 866, March 22, 9 p.m., ibid., p. 427, the Ambassador in the Soviet Union reported on a conversation with President Beneš during which the subject of the expulsion of minorities from Czechoslovakia was raised.