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

123 Patch, Isaac: Telegram

The Chargé in Czechoslovakia (Penfield ¹) to the Secretary of State

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Praha, October 22, 1949—3 p. m.

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1579. Embtel 1568 and previous.²

1. Embassy in extremely exposed public relations position not only because of impressions senior officers caught red-handed directing espionage but because suggestion incompetent bungling of entire operation will involve great loss prestige.

2. Our strongest points appear to be:

(1) Patch’s innocence (even Czechoslovak note states he “was carrying out this function for a comparatively short time” and “was relieved of this function”) and Czechoslovak insistence on his departure in 24 hours on grounds that, in Hajdu’s words, he was “too great a danger to the Republic”; and

(2) Ability make issue of Czechoslovak activities both here and probably in US far worse than those they accuse us of.

3. Department may therefore want to use this opportunity for strong note rounding up history Czechoslovak Government’s deliberate campaign to make normal diplomatic intercourse between our two countries impossible and irregular Czechoslovak activities in US (if substantial evidence available). For this purpose note would refer to all possible matters supporting these charges regardless of relevance to present case, including:

(1) Arrest Czechoslovak citizens leaving USIS premises,

(2) Questioning of Czechoslovak citizens leaving Embassy by secret police,

(3) Press campaign designed intimidate Czechoslovak population into believing Embassy nest espionage agents with whom dangerous to associate.

(4) Planting of elaborate listening devices in homes of Embassy personnel.

(5) Interference with Embassy mail.

(6) Deliberate frame-up through forced confession to espionage of two American soldiers.³

(7) Kliachko case (apparently involving espionage charges even though Embassy not directly brought in) etc.

Above indicates considered policy Czechoslovak Government to isolate diplomatic community and create atmosphere in which mere visit by diplomatic official to a Czechoslovak citizen can be construed as directing espionage against state. Patch is case in point. Czechoslovak note suggests his only crime was probably that of being introduced to Czechoslovak supposedly later arrested and charged with espionage. Note would also point out that on basis police methods to which US soldiers subjected it is not surprising that Czechoslovak authorities are able exact any kind of confessions they desire which can easily be supported by producing radio sets and other props. Therefore, US Government cannot accept charges as being supported by “irrefutable proofs”, rejects accusation that Embassy directed any anti-state espionage in Czechoslovakia and protests this latest incident in a systematic campaign of vilification and intimidation designed to make it impossible for Embassy to function in its normal diplomatic capacity.

4. Regardless of whether Department considers above line advisable, Embassy suggests that as automatic reflex a Czechoslovak diplomat (preferably one on which there is some evidence) be ordered leave within 24 hours.

5. It is also hoped VOA treatment of case will be carefully considered. One angle which might be worth playing is to suggest this case is essentially slavish following of lead given by USSR in Bucar⁴ and similar cases. Basic angle would be to spell out rationale in above suggested note as a logical explanation to the Czechoslovak population of why Czechoslovak Government has taken present step.

Penfield

1. In May 1949 President Truman accepted the resignation of Joseph Jacobs as Ambassador in Czechoslovakia and announced the appointment of Ellis O. Briggs, currently Ambassador in Uruguay, as his successor. The Senate confirmed Briggs’ appointment in August. Jacobs remained at his post until October 12 when Counselor of Embassy James K. Penfield assumed charge of the Embassy pending the arrival of Ambassador-designate Briggs.
2. In a note of October 21 to the Embassy in Praha, the text of which was transmitted to the Department of State in telegram 1566, October 21, from Praha, not printed, the Czechoslovak Foreign Ministry described in some detail an alleged espionage network in Czechoslovakia organized and directed by former and current personnel of the Embassy. The Foreign Ministry protested the purported activity of Embassy personnel, demanded the departure from Czechoslovakia within 24 hours of Isaac Patch, Assistant Attaché of the Embassy, and announced the intention of the Czechoslovak Government to arrest Samuel Meryn, a translator employed by the Military Attaché (123 Patch). The note of October 21 was published in the Czechoslovak press on October 22. In his telegram 1568, October 21, from Praha, not printed, Chargé Penfield reported on a brief conversation with Deputy Assistant Foreign Minister Hajdů regarding the October 21 note. Hajdů refused to grant a delay for Patch’s departure (123 Patch, Isaac). Patch left Czechoslovakia on the afternoon of October 22. Meryn was arrested on the afternoon of October 21 and was held incommunicado until October 29.
3. The reference here is presumably to the case of George R. Jones and Clarence R. Hill: see pp. 391–406, passim.
4. Regarding the case of Annabelle Irene Bucar, a former clerk in the Embassy in Moscow, see despatch 129, March 4, from Moscow, p. 581.