249.1111–Oatis, William N./7–3051
The Secretary of State to the Embassy in Czechoslovakia
79. Your tel 86 July 30.1 After long consideration problem consular invoices in Czechoslovakia we have reached the following conclusions:
Department realizes forced and drastic reduction Embassy staff by Czech authorities imposes great burden on Embassy and its duties heavily increased by many efforts Embassy in connection with Oatis case and border violations for which Czech regime responsible.
Recognize you must take this situation into account in issuing consular invoices although necessary observe legal obligations (Deptel 470 June 26 19502). Suggest accordingly for present you deal only with those requests you can conveniently handle and let others remain until sufficient time to complete action on them. Appreciate some of these requests, generally most important ones involving large and valuable shipments, may require considerable investigation [Page 1391] and possibly signature by head of national corporation concerned. You may find it less burdensome if action on these deferred until fully convenient for you to process them. You may of course be in position to act sooner on applications for small items. We wish to emphasize in this connection you should not fail to apply every regulation or institute all required investigation as a means of easing Embassy’s burden in issuance of invoices. You may thus proceed in your discretion along foregoing lines dealing with this burdensome problem in view existing situation.
If Czechs raise objections or even questions, feel free to explain difficulties arising from circumstances mentioned first paragraph above.3
- In telegram 86, Briggs observed that 100 days had passed since the arrest of Oatis and in that period the Embassy had processed 1,500 consular invoices covering Czechoslovak exports amounting in value to $4,500,000. Briggs recommended that pending a decision on an embargo against Czechoslovak exports the Embassy be authorized to cease certifying invoices on the grounds of “technical difficulties”. (249.1111–Oatis, William N.)↩
- Not printed.↩
- In telegram 259 from Praha, September 28, Briggs reported that in the period from August 4 to September 28 the Embassy had certified invoices covering $610,000 in Czechoslovak exports but had not certified invoices covering goods worth $1,100,000. (Praha Embassy files, 270 Consular Invoices) In Farewell to Foggy Bottom, p. 108, Briggs recalls having reported to the Department, not long after Oatis’ trial, that Czechoslovak exports had been reduced from $2,500,000 per month to almost zero in consequence of the Embassy’s program of delaying the processing of consular invoices.↩