860F.01/8–245
The Acting Secretary of
State to the Ambassador in Czechoslovakia
(Steinhardt)
No. 60
Washington, August 18,
1945.
The Acting Secretary of State refers to the Department’s telegram no. 74
of July 24, 1945 and transmits herewith a letter from the Secretary of
War of August 2, 1945 commenting on the Czechoslovak note
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of June 30, 1945 sent to the
Department in the Embassy’s despatch no. 36 of July 3, 1945.
The Ambassador is requested to bring the substance of the last three
paragraphs of the letter of the Secretary of War to the attention of the
Czechoslovak Government.64 After the
receipt of information that the Czechoslovak Government has been so
informed, the Department will consider the issues raised in the
Czechoslovak note of June 30, 1945 as closed.
[Enclosure]
The Secretary of War (Stimson) to the Acting Secretary of
State
Washington, August 2,
1945.
Dear Mr. Secretary: I am replying to your
letter of July 25, 194565 with which you inclosed a copy of a Czechoslovak
note of June 30, 1945 and a copy of a letter concerning that note
from Major General E. N. Harmon dated July 6, 1945.
As you are aware, the primary reason why United States forces have
continued in occupation of portions of Czechoslovakia results from
our informal understanding with the Czechoslovak Government that our
troops will be retained in that country as long as Russian forces
remain. It has been further informally agreed that our troops will
be removed proportionally with the removal of the Russian troops.
This agreement has already resulted in the withdrawal of
approximately four of the eight United States divisions originally
in that country.
You are likewise aware of the efforts that have been made to secure
the execution of a Civil Affairs Agreement with the Czechoslovakia
Government. The existence of such an agreement would solve all of
the questions raised by them. The United States has been prepared to
negotiate an agreement but the delay which has occurred has resulted
from inaction on the part of the Czechoslovak Government.
In view of the foregoing it is the opinion of the War Department that
a suitable reply to the Czechoslovak note would be to call to their
attention the fact that upon the execution of the proposed agreement
the problems upon which they have commented would be solved. It
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would also be appropriate
to remind them that in the period immediately following the defeat
of an enemy there are always a certain number of circumstances that
are bound to occur as the result of chaotic conditions. As an
example of the type of thing which will occur are the inscriptions
that appear upon the vehicles used by the Civil Affairs detachments.
It is obvious that in the fresh pursuit of an enemy time is not
available to change language that may appear upon equipment. This is
particularly true of conditions such as were present in the instant
case where there was no original plan to occupy Czechoslovak
territory.
The War Department does not have sufficient information in Washington
upon which to base a reply to the various issues raised in the
Czechoslovak note. However, as it appears that none of them are
other than matters of small moment, in light of the facts previously
stated in this letter, I do not believe it advisable to query the
theater commander with regard to them. My opinion in this regard is
based also upon the very adequate reply given by the Commanding
General of the XXII Corps.
Sincerely yours,
