Foreign Relations of the United States, 1948, Eastern Europe; The Soviet Union, Volume IV

860F.002/3–1048: Telegram

The Ambassador in Czechoslovakia (Steinhardt) to the Secretary of State

secret   urgent

Praha, March 10, 1948—6 p. m.

348. I learn that Masaryk visited Beneš yesterday at his country place with new Polish Ambassador who presented his credentials. I have not as yet ascertained whether he had a private talk with Beneš and, if so, nature thereof. It difficult escape the conclusion that Masaryk’s suicide this morning may have been connected with talk he may have had yesterday with Beneš. It seems probable that Masaryk had hoped until yesterday that Beneš had evolved a plan or course of action which would permit Masaryk to retain his self-respect. Having regard to reports from reliable sources that Beneš yesterday was determined to resign, it possible that Masaryk then saw no other alternative than to take his own life.¹

It clear to me as result of my last talk with Masaryk a few days ago that he was still seeking to rationalize his retention of office in a wholly Communist Government which had ruthlessly seized power in violation of all democratic principles. I have reason to believe that since then he was deeply affected by the bitter criticism of some of his most intimate friends, several of whom are said to have told him point blank that he had suffered a serious loss of prestige with Czech people and was being excoriated for allowing his name to be used by Communists to cloak themselves with decency. In his desperation he appears to have turned to suicide as the only means of expressing his disapproval of recent events in his native land which he unquestionably loved deeply. As he was emotional, it is quite possible that a visit he paid to his father’s grave last Sunday may have caused him to throw aside his attempt to rationalize his position and finally to comprehend the contempt in which he was beginning to be held by his most intimate friends, his associates in the west and most his countrymen. The speeches he was virtually obliged to make during the past ten days must have galled him. There is no doubt in my mind but that Masaryk’s act in taking his own life has not only redeemed him completely in the eyes of his countrymen as well as his friends of the west but will have an ineradicable effect on the mass of Czech and Slovak people who will look upon him as a martyr and for years to come will hold against Communist Party fact that they drove the son of Masaryk, their liberator President,² to suicide.

Steinhardt

1. In a letter of April 7, 1948, to Harold C. Vedeler of the Division of Central European Affairs, not printed, Ambassador Steinhardt revised his opinion regarding the death of Foreign Minister Masaryk. The letter read in part as follows:

   “The fact remains, however, that the public insists that Masaryk was murdered and we cannot dismiss this possibility lightly. We are continuing to run down every clue or rumor as best we can. While I was at first disposed to accept the suicide story, I am less convinced than I was at the time of the death. Masaryk was not the type of individual to commit suicide. Were it not for the fact that there is a family history of mental unbalance definitely known in the case of his mother and his sister, I would be still less disposed to accept the suicide theory. On the other hand, there being established mental unbalance in the family and suicide being definitely known to be an inherited characteristic in certain types of cases, it cannot be excluded that he did voluntarily jump from the window. It seems to be reasonably certain that if he was murdered it was not a ‘local operation’ but was undertaken by imported gunmen. I cannot escape the feeling that the repeated rumors of murder might have some basis. Masaryk was hated in the Kremlin, perhaps more because of his jocular contempt for the Soviets and because of What they must have regarded as his insincerity and hypocrisy in going along with the Czech Communist-dominated Government. After all is said and done, Trotsky was murdered why not Masaryk. Furthermore, it seems to me that if he had committed suicide he would probably have left a statement or declaration addressed to his countrymen, for Masaryk was a real patriot at heart. I am more impressed by his failure to leave a statement or declaration than by any other single factor. Masaryk was a showman and knew the value of such a statement. Nor do I believe that there was a statement which has been suppressed or destroyed, for Masaryk was too shrewd and knew too well what was going on not to have made certain that at least a copy would be in the possession of Marcia Davenport [an intimate friend of Masaryk who left Czechoslovakia shortly before Masaryk’s death] or myself, where he could be certain it would eventually receive the desired publicity. All in all, I am frankly puzzled but I am beginning to lean more towards the theory of involuntary death than suicide, although I admit that thus far there is not a shred of proof with which to undermine the Government’s official statement. If it was murder, I believe that sooner or later we will get a lead or a clue that will solve the puzzle—even though we may never be able to prove assassination.” (860F.00/4–748)

2. Thomas Guarrigue Masaryk, first President of Czechoslovakia.