Foreign Relations of the United States, 1948, Germany and Austria, Volume II

862.00/2–1848: Telegram

The Chargé in Czechoslovakia ( Bruins ) to the Secretary of State

secret

Praha , February 18, 1948—7 p.m.

158. Joint declaration of Praha Foreign Ministers Conference February 17–18 reported in Embtel 157, February 18¹ reliably reported to be “document” brought along by Polish Delegation (Embtel 149, February 17²) which was approved by conference with minor modifications.

Experienced observers in Praha regard it obvious that entire conference was Soviet utilization of three satellite countries to attempt to marshal world public opinion particularly among undecided elements in European countries, against expected action of London tripartite meeting scheduled for February 23.

Desired propaganda effect in Czechoslovakia of pulling country further into eastern sphere has apparently been unsuccessful because of mild nature of declaration and because present Cabinet crisis in Czechoslovakia has relegated Foreign Ministers Conference to inside pages even in Czechoslovak leftist press.

Embassy has been on alert to learn whether in view of routine manner in which public declaration was approved other less advertised decisions were taken. So far as ascertained the only other matters discussed on the side were the Yugoslav complaints against their bad press in Czechoslovakia. As result of private conversations it also appears that the Czechoslovaks are long way from being fully trusted either by Soviet Union or by Poles or Yugoslavs as evidenced by Czechoslovak press criticism of eastern countries and by fact that very many non-Communists continue to represent Czechoslovak interests abroad in both economic and diplomatic spheres.

Because of shortness of time available which included some social festivities Embassy regards it doubtful whether other matters of major importance were decided or even discussed in detail at Foreign Ministers meeting. Polish and Yugoslav Foreign Ministers arrived Praha by train morning, February 17 and left evening 18.

Sent Department as 158, repeated Warsaw as 8, Belgrade as 6, London as 11, Berlin as 17.

Bruins

1. Not printed; it transmitted the text of a joint declaration issued by the Polish, Czechoslovak, and Yugoslav Foreign Ministers at the conclusion of their conference in Praha on February 17 and 18 on the German problem. For the text of the Praha Declaration, see Poland, Germany and European Peace, p. 74. A German translation of the Declaration appears in Europa Archiv, March 1948, p. 1229.
2. Not printed; it reported reliable information to the effect that the initiative for the Praha Foreign Ministers Conference had come from the Polish Government whose delegation was bringing to the conference a document which the Czechoslovak and Yugoslav Foreign Ministers would be asked to approve. The Embassy in Praha continued to feel, however, that the Praha Conference had been inspired by the Soviet Government (862.00/2–1748).