Foreign Relations of the United States, 1949, Eastern Europe; The Soviet Union, Volume V

811.917 America/2–449: Telegram

The Secretary of State to the Embassy in Czechoslovakia

secret

Washington , February 4, 1949—8 p. m.

142. Dept Attachés considerable importance to obtaining agreement Czech Govt recognize distribution Czech-language edition Amerika (Depins 56, May 6¹) so that it might serve as long-range medium and line of contact between Czech people and US. Although negative response received by USIS officer in earlier discussions with Czech officials, we are not ready conclude question close and desire you reopen matter directly with Clementis from standpoint attempt settle this pending problem as one of initial tasks your incumbency.

While difficulties may still arise believe grounds exist for hope of success in new approach view following:

1. If full weight your interest and position as new Amb exerted FonOff might see advantage granting this concession during early stages your mission.

2. Sov negotiations on distribution magazine stalled many months and only successfully completed after direct presentation Harriman² to Molotov³

3. Czech Amb and Counselor here recently paid visit Dept apparently intended as goodwill mission and possibly undertaken on instructions from Moscow.⁴ If any special Czech disposition now exists to seek our favor it should be exploited for these negotiations.

4. Stress can be given info privileges enjoyed here by Czech Govt which argument believed important factor in successful Sov negotiations for this purpose. Advantage should be taken especially fact Dept recently gave consent publication by Czech Commerical Attaché from Office Czech Consulate General in New York of Czech Economic Bulletin. Initial issue has now appeared under date Jan 1949. Dept airmailed Nov 29 samples other English-language propaganda publications freely distributed by Czech Emb and Consulate cultural offices.

5. If necessary Dept will make supporting representations here re principle reciprocity info activities.

Suggest objective should be regular monthly sale through official distribution agency subject whatever restrictions including precensorship may seem necessary to get project underway.⁵

Acheson

1. Not printed; it presented a resume of the steps taken by American representatives in Moscow from 1943 to 1948 to obtain from Soviet authorities permission to distribute in the U.S.S.R. the Russian-language magazine Amerika. The instruction also offered suggestions on the procedure to be followed by the Embassy in Praha to obtain approval for the distribution in Czechoslovakia of a Czech-language edition of the magazine (811.917 Amerika/3–2448). The illustrated magazine Amerika (in Russian, Czech, and Polish-language editions) was written, edited, and printed in New York by the United States Government. Its purpose was to present a picture of life in the United States. It was not concerned with political questions but concentrated on articles and features of broad cultural interest. The Russian-language edition of Amerika was distributed in the U.S.S.R. for the first time in January 1945. Regarding the progress and difficulties in distributing Amerika in the U.S.S.R. in 1947, see telegrams 1106, March 31, 1947, and 2632, August 13, 1947, both from Moscow, Foreign Relations, 1947, vol. iv, pp. 548 and 583.
2. W. Averell Harriman, Ambassador in the Soviet Union, 1943–1946; in 1949, Special Representative in Europe for the Economic Cooperation Administration, with the rank of Ambassador.
3. Vyacheslav Mikhailovich Molotov, Minister for Foreign Affairs of the Soviet Union from 1939 until March 5, 1949.
4. Czechoslovak Ambassador Vladimir Outrata and Francis Weiskopf, Counselor of Embassy, called on officers of the Division of Central European Affairs on January 19. According to the memorandum of the conversation by Jacob D. Beam. Chief of the Division, Outrata expressed hope for better relations between the United States and Czechoslovakia although he had no concrete proposals except a relaxation of U.S. export controls and the early conclusion of a compensation agreement between the two countries (711.60F/1–1949).
5. In his telegram 207, February 14, from Praha, not printed, Ambassador Jacobs reported that he had taken up with Foreign Minister Clementis on February 12 the question of the distribution of Amerika. Clementis appeared to be favorably disposed toward the request (811.917 Amerika/2–1449). A copy of the aide-mémoire left by Jacobs on February 12 was transmitted to the Department of State under cover of despatch 111, February 16, from Praha, neither printed (811.917 America/2–1649). Telegram 331, March 14, from Praha, not printed, reported receipt of a Czechoslovak Foreign Ministry note of March 14 expressing tentative approval, subject to further negotiation, for distribution of America (811.917 America/3–1449). On May 23 the Department of State issued a statement to the press announcing that the Czech-language edition of America would be distributed in Czechoslovakia beginning in May. For the text of the statement, see Department of State Bulletin, June 5, 1949, p. 730. Distribution, however, did not in fact begin. The Embassy continued throughout the remainder of the year to try to secure final approval from Czechoslovak authorities for the distribution of the magazine.