860F.24/5–1346

The Czechoslovak Ambassador ( Hurban ) to the Acting Secretary of State 40

The Czechoslovak Ambassador presents his compliments to His Excellency, the Acting Secretary of State, and has the honor to approach His Excellency in the following matter:

Expecting that Germany would strike against Czechoslovakia with the first opportunity, the Czechoslovak Government and people made great national and individual sacrifices to build up a military force that would contribute worthily to the defense of their independence, of the security of central Europe, and thus of all Europe against German domination. In view of the well known developments in 1938 and thereafter, these great efforts and the financial hardships which they involved were largely frustrated, and after the occupation of Prague in March of 1939, Hitler seized all of the military equipment and installations of the country. The damage thus inflicted on Czechoslovakia by the enemy spoliation amounted to many billions.

During the war Czechoslovakia took an active part in the common struggle of the United Nations and her soldiers and air men fought [Page 198] alongside the great Allies, whenever possible, that is in nearly every theater of war, not only in Europe but also in Africa and the Middle East.

When the war was brought to its inevitable victory of the United Nations over the Axis, and the Czechoslovak Republic was liberated from the Germans, the country found itself in an unenviable position, especially with regard to her military forces. Again, as prior to the war, the Czechoslovak Government and people have begun the organization of their armed forces in order to safeguard the victory, strengthen the peace in their, part of Europe, and eventually contribute to the defensive and peace-maintaining potential of the United Nations. Facing the task, Czechoslovakia is in urgent need of certain combatant materials, such as small arms and equipment to organize her armed forces in the initial period, and to train her new army.

As the result of their victorious struggle in Europe, the United States Armed Forces captured a considerable quantity of German war material as war booty. Much of this material has no military and very limited civilian value for the Allies, and as such is being largely destroyed or earmarked for ultimate destruction. The Czechoslovak Government is convinced that it would be of no special cost to the Allies and to the United States Armed Forces if a part of this material and equipment was transferred to Czechoslovakia for the above mentioned purpose.

Due to the definition of the term of restitution, as accepted by the Paris Conference on German reparations, Czechoslovakia was prevented from basing her claim of a share of the captured military material on the title of restitution, as she had not had the possibility to identify the material which Germany seized from her in 1939 and subsequently consumed.

Under such circumstances the Czechoslovak Government believes that it is appropriate to approach the Government of the United States with a request to kindly intercede on their behalf by instructing the proper authorities in the occupation zone of Germany to make arrangements with the proper Czechoslovak authorities for the transfer to Czechoslovakia of such combat material (small arms) and equipment as is not needed by the United States Army of Occupation.

The Czechoslovak Ambassador wishes to point out that compliance with this request would be of distinct help to the reconstruction of Czechoslovakia, as it would help her during the difficult period of transition when the country is painstakingly recovering from the losses caused by enemy occupation and more particularly by the enemy seizure of all her military equipment of pre-war date.

  1. In a note of June 29, 1946, to Ambassador Hurban, the Acting Secretary of State expressed the regrets of the United States Government that it was not possible to comply with the request contained in this note from the Ambassador. The Acting Secretary explained that in accordance with previous instructions to the Commanding General, United States Forces, European Theater, directing that all captured German ground forces material be destroyed, a very substantial part of the material had already been destroyed and the remainder had deteriorated to the point where it was not considered serviceable. (860F.24/5–1346)