123 Klieforth, Alfred W.: Telegram
The Chargé in Czechoslovakia (Klieforth) to the Secretary of State
[Received June 27—2:18 a.m.]
40. Received your 19 of June 2332 Sunday33 afternoon. This morning I requested and obtained an appointment with Dr. Stransky, temporarily acting as Minister for Foreign Affairs. I confined myself to the following remarks:
“I have the honor to inform Your Excellency that the Dept of State takes a serious view of my detention by force on June 20 and my [Page 465] treatment while I was detained. The circumstances of this incident were explained to the Zecho Govt in my behalf by the Dean of the Diplomatic Corps, His Excellency Mr. Philip B. B. Nichols, the British Ambassador. While I have received with appreciation your expression of regrets concerning the matter as transmitted to me by the Brit Ambassador, I have the honor to inform you that I am now instructed to demand a direct formal apology and the punishment of the guilty person or persons who detained me and thereby caused offense to the Govt of the US.”
I gave him the text of my remarks as an aide-mémoire. He was distressed and unhappy and said only that he had not received any reply so far from the Russian Embassy but that he would now demand (repeat demand) an immediate reply and communicate with me as soon as possible.
Sent Dept, rptd to Moscow as 10.