124.60F3/3–1149: Telegram
The Ambassador in CzechoslovaJcia (Jacobs) to the Secretary of State
321. In view definite increase in police attempt penetrate security of Embassy through bribery, intimidation and threats, involving both [Page 388] our Czech employees and officers’ personal servants (see Security Officer’s status reports and Heydrich’s statement regarding penetration attempts), consider time opportune to refer to Department question whether Embassy should continue to let matter drift, improvising best safeguards possible in light of developments, or in addition to take more positive action along lines indicated herein. Department’s knowledge of similar developments elsewhere might be most helpful here.
Recent police approaches have involved practically every section where Czech personnel are employed and char force in particular has been target of intensified pressure. During past charwomen, for most part elderly, have either been called to police headquarters or interrogated in their homes by police officers who at first offered extra ration coupons for bringing to police waste paper or desk calendars, pads or personal letters to be kept by police over night and returned following morning by charwomen. Although not all charwomen have reported to us, we believe that all have been approached by police and danger lies largely among those who have not informed us. One particular charwoman, employed since November 1945, related that she had been visited third time in three weeks and told that unless she complied with police request by certain date she would be arrested and pension of her husband, retired railway clerk, discontinued. In order protect her, she has been given scraps of waste paper of no value which she is handing over to police.
In order to get positive information this activity without compromising employees too much, we have thought of making spot search of charwomen in full view of Czech policeman always stationed at entrance. We would find at least on person of charwoman referred to above whatever we had given her and we might find something on others. We would then conduct interrogation and on basis thereof I could complain to Foreign Minister. Circumstances of search would on surface indicate that charwomen themselves had not voluntarily revealed police activities but used so it is not improbable that police would resort to retaliation against charwomen. This uncertainty makes us hesitant to adopt plan, certainly without Department’s foreknowledge.
There is some evidence which might use in protest to Foreign Minister to be found in reports which have come back to us from former employees who legally or illegally have gone to Germany. Such reports reveal substantially same degree of police pressure brought to bear upon them before they left Czechoslovakia. Since they are out of harm’s way (except in some cases where close relatives remain in Czechoslovakia), I might use their statements as basis of protest to Foreign Minister.
In bringing matter to Department’s attention, I must say I doubt [Page 389] seriously whether any protest we can make will stop these police efforts. Judging from what has happened in other satellite countries, we are just at beginning of this sort of police pressure which is likely to be continued relentlessly, regardless of what we do, until practically all our Czech employees are compelled to leave us and all our contacts with Czechs cut off except for few selected ones who are permitted by authorities to see us.
Would appreciate therefore such instructions as Department may wish to give as to whether we should continue to go along as we are, attempting to safeguard Embassy security as best we can, or whether I should file complaint with Foreign Office. Probably only advantage to be gained by filing complaint is that we would have satisfaction of letting Czech authorities know that we know what is going on. This is something because Czech police are such “crime Sherlock Holmes” that they seem to feel and conduct themselves as if they were getting away with murder without our knowing it. It might jolt them into being more careful and less openly aggressive if they knew we knew some of the things they are doing. However this in turn will have repercussions and will not stop campaign against us because it results from higher directives, probably from Moscow.