Office of the Historian

860F.01/7–445: Telegram

The Secretary of State to the Chargé in Czechoslovakia (Klieforth)

Washington, July 6, 1945—6 p.m.

41. Urtel 33 June 23;45 36 June 24; 37 June 24;46 46 June 29; 58 July 4 and Despatch 30 June 23.47 Please address note along following lines to Zecho FonOff.48

US Govt acknowledges receipt of Zecho note of June 21 concerning problems created for Zecho State by presence of two Allied armies within national frontiers. US, which has always manifested admiration for course of Zecho democratic development since days of founding of Eepublic, would deeply regret if presence of two Allied armies and division of the Republic into two zones hindered the reconstruction of country and full achievement of national independence.

[Page 473]

US Govt therefore views with sympathetic interest desire of Zecho Govt to prevent any situation from arising which might hinder a speedy reconstruction of the whole of Zecho. Orders have been issued to Commanding General US Forces European Theater to begin immediately a reduction in US forces now in Zecho.

In view of diligent efforts of Zecho Govt to restore normal life after 6 years of German domination, US Govt looks forward confidently to day when assistance of Allied armies will no longer be necessary and both armies may be withdrawn completely from Zecho territory.

Sent to Praha as 41; repeated to Moscow as 1537, repeated to Hoechst for Murphy as 70.

Byrnes
  1. Not printed.↩
  2. See footnote 22, p 460.↩
  3. Despatch 30 not printed.↩

  4. The Chargé carried out this instruction by delivery of a note on July 9 to the Acting Minister for Foreign Affairs.

    The Departments proposed reply to the Czechoslovak note of June 21 had been sent to John J. McCloy, Assistant Secretary of War; Mr. McCloy, in a letter of July 5 to the Director of the Office of European Affairs, acknowledged receipt of the proposed note, and continued as follows:

    “As the continued presence of U.S. forces in Czechoslovakia is considered to be primarily a matter of political concern, the War Department has no objection to the dispatch of the proposed reply.

    “In accordance with an informal request by Mr. Riddleberger of the Department of State, on receipt of advice that the note has been dispatched appropriate steps will be taken to amend the draft U.S./Czechoslovak Civil Affairs Agreement presently being considered by the Joint Civil Affairs Committee to include the points presented in the reply.” (860F.01/7–545)

    ↩