91. Memorandum of Conversation1
SUBJECT
- Exploratory Discussion of Secretary Rogersʼ Meeting with Czechoslovak Foreign
- Minister Chnoupek in New York on October 5, 1972
PARTICIPANTS
- Czechoslovak Ambassador Dusan Spacil
- Czechoslovak Minister Counselor Jaroslav Zantovsky
- US Ambassador to Czechoslovakia Albert W. Sherer, Jr.
- Director, EUR/EE, John A. Baker, Jr.
The exploratory discussion followed an informal and cordial luncheon given by Ambassador and Mrs. Spacil. The three subjects explored were 1) a Consular Convention, 2) a Scientific, Technical and Cultural Agreement and 3) the negotiation of outstanding economic and financial problems.
Consular Convention
All participants agreed informally and off the record that the best place to begin the normalization of US-Czechoslovak relations was with the negotiation of a Consular Agreement or Convention. As both the US and Czechoslovakia have signed and ratified the Vienna Consular Convention it appeared that the preliminary discussions might consider how that document could be supplemented to take into account the more specific interests of both sides. No specifics were mentioned by either side but it was generally agreed that a supplementary [Page 227] agreement or protocol would be necessary in order to take into account each sideʼs experience with the general language of the Vienna Convention. The Czechoslovaks were informed that Consular Conventions with Poland, Romania and Hungary would be sent to the Hill early in 1973 and if we could move quickly on the agreement with Czechoslovakia that might be included in the same package, thus easing and speeding its completion.
Scientific, Technical and Cultural Agreement
It was clear from the discussion that the Czechoslovaks were thinking in terms of a scientific and technology agreement only. An effort was made to convince them that any agreement should be broader in context. They were asked for example whether an exhibit such as Architecture USA was scientific, technical or cultural. The idea of including “culture” in a type of general language “umbrella” agreement was obviously distasteful to them but they were strongly encouraged to begin thinking along these lines. It was pointed out that we would also be prepared under such a broad umbrella agreement to negotiate specific research or exchange agreements such as NSF had recently concluded in Budapest.
Economic and Financial Agreement
The Czechoslovaks were interested in beginning the discussion of these matters as soon as possible but actually indicated February as a target date for delegations to address these issues. Ambassador Spacil indicated that it was his assumption that the negotiation of the economic and financial issues would be conducted by delegations of the “Vice Minister level.” He was informed that in our view these issues could be worked on primarily through normal diplomatic channels either in Washington or Prague. They appeared pleased to hear that the US representatives had no objection to beginning preliminary explorations and exchanges of view prior to February, perhaps while discussion of the other two agreements were in progress. Both sides agreed that the economic and financial discussions might be complex and protracted, but Ambassador Spacil said on two occasions that they might not be as difficult as we might assume.
Ambassador Spacil was obviously interested in the cosmetics as well as the substance of the negotiations and expressed the hope that a “very high level US representative” could visit Prague to sign any agreements that might be reached. There is little doubt that he had in mind a visit to Czechoslovakia by Secretary Rogers.
It was also agreed that the negotiations were in no sense a “package deal.” Each agreement would be signed separately and implemented as soon as mutually convenient.
- Source: National Archives, RG 59, Central Files 1970–73, POL 4 CZECH–US. Limited Official Use. Drafted by Sherer. The conversation took place at the Czechoslovak Residence in Washington.↩