Office of the Historian
No. 698

249.1111–Oatis, William/8–1451: Telegram

The Acting Secretary of State to the Embassy in Czechoslovakia 1

secret
Washington, August 16, 1951—6 p.m.

114. Re suspension overflights (Deptel London 945 Aug 13,2 rptd Praha 100 and ur 120 Aug 14 [16]3) in light your views Dept will take up matter here with Amb Prochazka if way cleared for suspension.

Pres has approved Dept’s course action dealing with Oatis case including revocation of outstanding export licenses and denial future applications for license to export Czech (Deptel London 699 July 30 rptd Praha 704).

USGov now prepared put this export embargo into effect at any time, but believe we shld first make known privately to Czech FonMin what we propose to do. We think this desirable in order give chance to Czechs settle Oatis problem before publicity attending adoption step might increase difficulty for Czechs to act.

In making approach you shld avoid mention Oatis case and refer to existing obstacles to better relations between two countries which cannot be improved until Czechs take some step to remove obstacles. It may be useful to point out state of feeling in US as reflected in various resolutions introduced in Cong and in res adopted Aug 14 by House.5 If nothing done by Czech Gov in this direction US will be obliged conclude Czech indifferent to situation and take action shortly cut off all exports to Czech. Shld Siroky ask what “shortly” means you may indicate about two weeks.

Webb
  1. Drafted by Vedeler (EUR/EE) and cleared by Schaetzel (E), Auchincloss (GPA), Bonbright (EUR), Matthews (G), and the Department of Commerce. Repeated to London.↩
  2. Supra.↩
  3. Not printed, but see footnote 5, supra.↩
  4. Not printed. For the course of action proposed to the President, see the Secretary of State’s memorandum to the President, Document 693.↩
  5. See Document 703.↩