740.00119 EW/1–3047: Telegram
The Chargé in Czechoslovakia (Bruins) to the Secretary of State
95. British Embassy Praha is suggesting to London Foreign Office that there would be advantage to British in taking favorable attitude toward Czechoslovak territorial claims against Germany as presented to Foreign Ministers Deputies in London (see Embassy’s despatch 1727 Jan 1510). It has also suggested that at an appropriate time Bevin might make public statement sympathetic to Czechoslovak aims. Theory behind Embassy’s recommendation is following:
Czechoslovak claims are insignificant from strategic point of view and involve territory inhabited by only 25,000 Germans. German rancor against Czechoslovakia is already so great that long term attitude will not be measurably affected by this small additional loss of territory. On other hand position of Czechoslovak moderate parties would be strengthened by support from west for claims against Germany presented to Big Four. This is particularly true since through initiative of Communist Party claims against German territory under Polish administration were not presented to Foreign Ministers Deputies and it seems likely that these claims will not be satisfied. Thus moderate parties would be able to demonstrate greater advantage to Czechoslovakia from placing claims before Big Four than from leaving them to disposition of Soviet and Soviet satellites.
While it is true that moderate parties here are constantly seeking support from west, this Embassy has long been of opinion that it would not be desirable for US and Britain to attempt to compete with Soviets in conferring territorial favors in this part of Europe. Recent conversations with members of Czechoslovak Foreign Office indicate that Czechoslovak Government is not optimistic that their territorial claims against Germany will be satisfied nor hopeful that, if satisfied, they would contribute materially to Czechoslovak security. In view of plans for coordination of Czechoslovak and Soviet armies approval of Czechoslovak claims for additional territory would give Soviet Army a foothold on German side of watershed.
I regard it important that if Czechoslovak claims are rejected this be done in such way that onus will not fall on western powers since Communists in Czechoslovakia will doubtless try to blame west for any setbacks.
Sent Dept as 95; repeated to London for Murphy as 6.
- The despatch under reference is not printed. For summaries of the views of the Czechoslovak Government on the principal aspects of the German problem, including possible frontier rectifications, see the Report by the Deputies for Germany to the Council of Foreign Ministers, February 25, 1947, pp. 40, 46–47.↩