123 Klieforth, Alfred W.: Telegram
The Acting Secretary of State to the Ambassador in Czechoslovakia (Steinhardt)
110. Dept approves decisions in your 126, July 28 and has sent following telegram to Moscow.61
“Urtel 2487, July 9 and Praha’s 25, July 2362 and 27, July 2863 concerning Klieforth incident. Dept does not desire to argue with Sov concerning facts of incident or to make further inquiry among Zecho witnesses to reconcile differences between Sov and US versions. Vyshinski’s note in urtel 2487 is not in agreement with facts as presented in Praha telegrams repeated to you and in Zecho note June 25 to Klieforth. Dept does not desire to pursue matter further with Zecho Govt since control over actions of Sov troops in Zecho is under sole jurisdiction of Sov High Command according to Article 7 of Zecho Sov Civil Affairs Agreement.
Please inform Sov FonOff that US Govt can not accept explanation in Sov note. US Govt is greatly dissatisfied with failure of Sov Govt to accept responsibility for the actions of its troops and with the fact that no apology has been made by a member of the Sov armed forces for an unfriendly act towards a diplomatic representative of an Allied state.”