860F.00/12–2346: Telegram
The Ambassador in Czechoslovakia (Steinhardt) to the Secretary of State
[Received 8:10 p.m.]
2008. President Beneš asked me to call to see him this afternoon (December 20) for what he described as general talk. He first referred to personalities in Government. He excoriated Fierlinger and said that very few people were aware of fact that he had refused to sign decree appointing him Acting Foreign Minister during absence of Masaryk and Clementis. He had told Gottwald that should similar [Page 239] situation present itself in future he would insist on Gottwaid assuming post of Acting Minister Foreign Affairs so that Heidrich would be in direct charge of Ministry—to which Gottwald had agreed. He described Fierlinger as “superficial, unreliable, tricky and ignorant”. I did not dissent. President said Fierlinger had become so disliked in all quarters that as soon as Social Democratic Party felt itself strong enough he hoped it would choose new leader. He then characterized Kopecky as “uncouth, garrulous, uneducated and totally devoid of good manners” but expressed doubt that Gottwald would take action in near future to replace him. As to Nejedly he said he was “troublesome old man for whose antics and speeches only excuse is his senility”. He described Duris as “young, inexperienced and dangerous demagogue” and said he wished Parliamentary pressure would become so strong as to oblige Gottwald to remove him. As to some of other Ministers including several of Communists he said they had grown measurably in stature during past year and with another year’s experience they should make valuable public servants. Among Communists whom he praised were Clementis, Nosek and Dolansky, saying that they were all good patriots and he was amused at extent to which they had gone “bourgeois”.
In discussing Ministry of National Defense Beneš remarked he had recently undertaken “major fight” to purge Ministry of so-called OBZ (secret police). He said this organization sponsored and heavily staffed by Soviet NKVD which had engaged in spying, intimidation, denunciation and unlawful arrests was menace to country and as Minister Svoboda lacked willingness or courage to clean house he had personally undertaken task and results would be apparent within three or four months.
President then referred to suspension of loan negotiations observing that public announcement had come to him as great shock. He deplored publicity given suspension saying it was first time in history of relations between the two countries that such difficulties as existed had been given wide publicity. On other hand he conceded that in many respects suspension had had salutary effect and it had materially strengthened his hand and those of moderates in government in dealing with Communist extremists. He said he had urged upon Gottwald immediate removal of all our grievances and Gottwald had assured him this was his policy. He said he had repeatedly cautioned radical members of government that press and radio attacks on United States and further procrastination in dealing with our claims might precipitate unpleasant consequences and that to this extent his predictions had been borne out although he would have preferred an opportunity prior to suspension to set matters right. He then said [Page 240] he quite understood Secretary’s irritation with voting record of Czech delegate ihoaris [in Paris?] remarking that if Secretary had had to deal with Soviet Government as representative of small contiguous country he would appreciate necessity of doing voluntarily what Soviet Government was in position to coerce in absence of voluntary action. He added Czechoslovakia had been so dependent on good will of Soviet Union until comparatively recently that to have voted against Soviet Union on any occasion that Poland and Yugoslavia voted with Soviet Union would have been to invite serious reprisals and to have aroused suspicions which could not have been allayed for long period of time to come. Under circumstances Masaryk had deemed it preferable to vote with Soviet Union on almost every occasion that Poland and Yugoslavia had done so, convinced that United States was not harmed thereby whereas Czechoslovakia might benefit. He pointed out that as result of Czechoslovakia’s voting record Soviets had scrupulously refrained from interfering in Czechoslovakia’s internal affairs and that in consequence moderates were making steady progress in leading country back to democratic ways. He argued that Czechoslovakia’s return in near future to its pre-war standards of democracy made possible by non-interference by Soviets would in long run be of greater benefit to United States than meaningless votes at international conferences which changed no decisions.
President expressed hope that in coming negotiations concerning Germany consideration would be given by American Govt to Zechos claim to border rectifications. He was frank in saying Soviets had already intimated they would not support Zechos claims and was disposed to attribute their position to fact that they were having so many difficulties in Poland that they were not desirous of adding thereto. He is convinced however that if US and British support Czech position satisfactory compromise can be worked out to which Soviets would not seriously object. He argued that as US had supported Hungary, an Axis power, against Zecho one of its Allies, that to support Zecho against Poland and Germany would be no more than just. He said his Govt was only too anxious to come to an agreement with Hungary by direct negotiation but Hungarians had become most intransigeant since they had received support and encouragement from American Govt and that as it was obvious that their entire course was merely smoke screen to enlarge Hungary ultimately at expense of Zecho he was not hopeful an agreement could be reached by direct negotiation. He said that under no circumstances would Zecho play into hands of Hungary by again granting special rights and privileges to minorities and anyone who insisted that Zecho grant such rights was deliberately shutting his eyes to disaster to which this policy had led in past as [Page 241] evidenced by Vienna award in 1938. He castigated those who do not bear responsibility of governing a country and keeping peace but who nevertheless actively support granting special rights and privileges to an ethnic minority whose loyalty should be to country and flag of which they are citizens and not to foreign power. He pictured disastrous consequences to country like US if each ethnic minority were granted special rights and privileges.93
As to general conditions in Zecho Beneš was optimistic that present rate of progress will continue. He said he was satisfied with food conditions and progress being made in fields of foreign trade and finance. As to industry he remarked that some of nationalized enterprises were doing quite well while others were doing very badly and that he had recently urged on Gottwald purge of managers who had already demonstrated their incompetence and whose appointment had been primarily political. He said that Gottwald had expressed himself as entirely in accord with imperative necessity of eliminating incompetent managers and subject would be thoroughly aired in near future both in Parliament and at meeting of Cabinet. As to our claims for nationalized and confiscated properties President said that on two separate occasions he had pointed out to Gottwald desirability of satisfying our claims as soon as possible and that Gottwald had assured him this would be done. Parenthetically Benes remarked that Fierlinger was utterly incompetent to deal with foreign claims as he was lacking in any knowledge of economics or finance. He expressed doubt that we would make much progress until matter is taken out of Fierlinger’s hands and placed in hands of Niederle whose appointment as “plenipotentiary” will probably be announced in course of next few days.
In conclusion President expressed hope that general impression of coolness in relations between our two countries resulting from public announcement of suspension of loan negotiations would soon be dissipated and that as result of sincere efforts his Govt is making and will continue to make to remove all of our grievances normal extremely close and friendly relations between two countries would be restored.