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

121.5460F/11–849: Telegram

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

secret

Praha, November 8, 1949—1 p. m.

1671. After usual exchange of amenities during “private” conversation with President (in presence of Acting Foreign Minister,¹ chief of protocol, and two presidential aides) I took up Meryn case along lines indicated Embtel 1658 November 5.² I stated could not speak from personal knowledge in regard to matters occurring before my arrival here, but that an examination of file had convinced me that both governments had adopted strong and divergent positions which had been set forth in official notes exchanged. I said that in precisely the spirit described in my credentials remarks, I desired to go forward in the discharge of my new responsibilities rather than to be engaged in argument regarding the past. Therefore I inquired whether, likewise in the spirit of the President’s reception of my credentials, the best solution would not be to dismiss the case with the assurance that Meryn would immediately leave the country.

Considerable discussion ensued. The President said that my suggestion would be more palatable were it not for fact that Meryn had engaged in highly improper activities. (Gottwald had apparently been well briefed thereon and cited alleged chapter and verse at some length.) He observed that his government could not tolerate officials and employees of American Embassy engaging in this sort of thing, and he concluded by asserting that Meryn is “undoubtedly guilty”. I indicated that this was the sort of altercation over past which I had hoped we might avoid, in order to go forward with clean slate. I took occasion to declare, however, that from this point on I wished to assure him that—leaving aside the Meryn case and the views which both governments have expressed thereon—the members of Embassy staff would henceforth proceed in a correct fashion. I said that if at any time his government felt they were proceeding otherwise or if he had any complaint to make in regard to the conduct of our personnel, I would be the first one to be concerned and would appreciate being informed. I could assure him, furthermore, that if at any time a member of Embassy staff had acted improperly I should also be the first to seek to take appropriate corrective action.

After further fencing during which the President asked for a re-translation of my assurance re staff conduct, Gottwald said that on consideration he agreed it would be desirable to liquidate the Meryn case and that Meryn would accordingly be turned over to Embassy, on understanding that we would arrange immediate departure from Czechoslovakia.

Details are being arranged with Foreign Office and will be telegraphed soon as concluded.³

Briggs

1. Viliam Široký, Czechoslovak Deputy Prime Minister, Chairman of the Slovak Communist Party, and member of the Politburo of the Czechoslovak Communist Party, served as Acting Foreign Minister while Foreign Minister Clementis headed the Czechoslovak Delegation to the Fourth Session of the United Nations General Assembly in New York.

2. Ellis O. Briggs, previously Ambassador in Uruguay, was named by President Truman in May to become Ambassador in Czechoslovakia. The Senate confirmed the appointment at the end of August, and Briggs arrived in Praha at the beginning of November. The conversation described here occurred in connection with Ambassador Briggs’ presentation of his credentials to President Gottwald. The text of the Ambassador’s remarks to Gottwald and the latter’s reply were transmitted to Department as enclosures to despatch 681, November 10, from Praha, not printed (123 Briggs, Ellis O.).

   In telegram 1658, November 5, from Praha, not printed, Ambassador Briggs reported that he had made his first call on Acting Foreign Minister Siroký who strongly restated the Czechoslovak position on the Meryn case. Briggs further reported that if the case continued to remain unresolved he intended to urge President Gottwald to deport Meryn in order to start with a clean slate (121.5460F/11–549).

3. Telegram 1675, November 8, from Praha, not printed, reported that Meryn had been released that afternoon and had departed for Germany shortly thereafter (121.5460F/11–849).