Executive Secretariat Files
Memorandum by the Division of Central European
Affairs2
[Washington,] January 11, 1945.
Summary
Czechoslovakia
The Czechoslovak Government’s relations with the British and Soviet
Governments are excellent, and present no problems.
Czechoslovak-American relations (reviewed in Annex I) remain excellent,
as they have been in the past.
The United States, Great Britain and the U.S.S.R. all favor restoration
of independent Czechoslovakia with substantially its 1937 frontiers.
Although we favor restoring Ruthenia to Czechoslovakia we would not
oppose its incorporation in the U.S.S.R. if the Soviet and Czechoslovak
Governments should decide this in agreement.3
Czechoslovakia is not expected to present any problems for American
post-war policies concerning it (detailed in Annex II).
We have no questions to raise about Czechoslovakia now; nor have Great
Britain or the U.S.S.R., as far as we know.
The Czechoslovak Government itself however has raised one question which
will require decision by the British, Soviet and American Governments:
It has informed them of its desire to expel to Germany
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all undesirable Sudeten Germans (possibly
two million) in the expectation that the three occupying powers will
facilitate the resettlement of these persons within Germany, without any
change in the Czech-German 1937 frontier. The State Department is
preparing a note in reply expressing sympathy with the Czechoslovak
concern about the Sudeten Germans, but opposing any unilateral action to
move them until an orderly solution can be worked out in agreement
between the Governments of Czechoslovakia and the occupying powers
responsible for the maintenance of order for military security in
Germany. The Big Three may wish to forestall precipitate action by
reaching agreement along the lines of the separate memorandum on
“Treatment of Germany”,4
the last section of which deals with the broader question of the
transfer of Germans from Poland, East Prussia and other areas as well as
Czechoslovakia, who might altogether number near ten million.5
[Annex 1—Extract]
Memorandum by the Division of Central European
Affairs
[Washington,] January 11,
1945.
Review of United States Policy Since 1933
Toward Czechoslovakia
. . . . . . .
Present Policies
The United States intends to continue to recognize, and to work in
close cooperation with, the present Czechoslovak Government in the
prosecution of the war and in the reconstruction and rehabilitation
of Czechoslovakia and the rest of Europe.
The United States views with approval the present plans of that
Government to resume authority within Czechoslovakia as soon as
military conditions permit under its Civil Affairs Agreement with
the Soviet Government, and thereafter to arrange for elections to
enable the people of Czechoslovakia to elect their own
representatives as soon as possible.
The United States expects to continue to cooperate as at present with
the Government of Czechoslovakia as a full member of UNRRA.6
Restoration of the 1937 frontier of Czechoslovakia is contemplated,
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with possibly the
minor adjustments outlined in PWC 201a of
July 18, 1944 (attached as Annex II).
The question of the Sudetenland minorities in Czechoslovakia is one
on which this Government will be called to formulate policy in the
near future. The Czechoslovak Government has formally notified us
that it intends to eject from Czechoslovakia possibly two million
more Germans whom it considers undesirable. The question of the
attitude to be taken by the United States is now before the Post-War
Policy Committee for consideration.
The Czechoslovak Government has requested that it be consulted about
the armistice terms for Hungary.7 The
British, Soviet and American representatives drafting the terms at
Moscow have agreed to show the draft to the Czechoslovaks as soon as
it is completed. The Department has approved this and expressed the
hope that there will then be time for Czechoslovak comment to be
considered before it becomes necessary to present the terms to the
Hungarians.
[Annex 2]
Memorandum by the Committee on Post-War
Programs8
PWC–201a
[Washington,] July 18,
1944.
Summary of Recommendations
policy toward liberated states:
czechoslovakia
I. Long-Range Interests and
Objectives of the United States
- 1.
- The United States favors the restoration of Czechoslovakia as
an independent state.
- 2.
- The United States should favor the participation of
Czechoslovakia in the general international organization.
- 3.
- The pre-Munich frontiers of Czechoslovakia and Germany should
in principle be restored, subject to any minor rectifications
which the Czechoslovak Government might wish to propose as part
of a broader settlement of the issues in dispute between
Czechoslovakia and Germany.
- 4.
- The United States should favor cession to Hungary of the
region of the Grosse Schuett and the Little Hungarian Plain,
either on the basis of direct negotiation between Czechoslovakia
and Hungary, or on the basis of a determination by appropriate
international procedures.
- 5.
- Ruthenia should be restored to Czechoslovakia with the
frontiers established in 1920, subject to any minor,
rectifications arrived at either through direct negotiations
between the states concerned or through other peaceful
procedures.
- 6.
- The United States favors the restoration of the 1937
Austro-Czechoslovak frontier, subject to any minor rectification
arrived at either through direct negotiations between the states
concerned or through other peaceful procedures.
- 7.
- The United States should favor the restoration of the pre-1938
frontier between Poland and Czechoslovakia in the regions of
Teschen (Tĕšíin), Spĭs, and Orava. This should, if possible, be
effected through direct negotiation between the two governments.
If no agreement is arrived at between the two governments prior
to the liberation of the disputed areas, this Government should
favor the resumption of Czechoslovak administration.
- 8.
- The United States should favor the reestablishment of the
system of Czechoslovak constitutional government, with
recognition of the right of the Czechoslovak people to make such
democratic changes therein as they may desire.
- 9.
- The United States should look with favor upon a program of
greater political decentralization in Czechoslovakia based on a
modification of the democratic constitution of 1920, in order to
provide an adequate solution of the problems of Slovakia and
Ruthenia, as well as a basis for the solution of the problem of
minorities.
- 10.
- While the United States Government recognizes that the
treatment of minorities in Czechoslovakia is primarily an
internal problem, it follows with interest the plans of the
Czechoslovak Government to create a more stable situation with
respect to its minorities.
- 11.
- Czechoslovakia should be encouraged to expand its world trade
on a non-discriminatory basis and within the framework of such
international economic organizations as may be
established.
- 12.
- The United States should be prepared to conclude a new trade
agreement with Czechoslovakia, with a view to reducing trade
barriers between the two countries and to expanding mutual trade
relationships.9
- 13.
- In line with its general policy of promoting freer transit
throughout Europe, the United States should favor the granting
of facilities by Czechoslovakia on a non-discriminatory basis
for the transit of goods across its territory.
- 14.
- In line with its general policy of promoting freer transit
throughout Europe, the United States should favor arrangements
designed to give Czechoslovakia special transit rights to the
sea for its trade.
- 15.
- The United States should favor the participation of
Czechoslovakia in such regional groupings as might seem to
promote its economic welfare and political security, so long as
these groupings are not in conflict with the purposes and
practices of a general international organization, and are
consistent with the policies of this Government and with the
best interests of the United Nations.
II. American Policy in the
Transitional Period
- 16.
- The United States Government has indicated no objections to
the Czechoslovak-Soviet agreement of May 8, 1944 for the
administration of civil affairs in Czechoslovakia during the
period of military operations.10
- 17.
- Although the United States sees no present necessity of
concluding an agreement with Czechoslovakia concerning the
administration of civil affairs, we may find it desirable to
send representatives to Czechoslovakia or to re-establish
diplomatic or consular representation within the country, prior
to the complete liberation of the country, for the purpose of
observation and for the protection of American interests.
- 18.
- In accordance with its general policy of not recognizing the
acquisition of territory by force, the United States should
favor the return to Czechoslovakia, immediately upon its
liberation, of the territories taken by Germany and Hungary in
1938–1939 and those taken by Poland in 1938 and 1939. The return
of these territories to Czechoslovakia during the transitional
period should not prejudice subsequent adjustments, as indicated
in paragraphs 4, 5, 6, and 8 above.
- 19.
- The United States should accord every facility for the return
of the constitutional government to Czechoslovakia, without
prejudice to the right of the Czechoslovak people to express as
soon as practicable their desires as to the form and details of
government.
- 20.
- If the transfer of certain minorities from Czechoslovakia is
decided upon, the United States should use its influence to have
such transfers carried out in an orderly manner, over a period
of time, under international auspices.
- 21.
- The United States, in cooperation with other nations, should
use all appropriate means consistent with United Nations plans
and supply policies to assist the people of Czechoslovakia to
fulfill as promptly as feasible their basic civilian and
rehabilitation requirements. Supplies and transport facilities
should be allocated, in so far as possible, on the basis of a
system of priorities.
- 22.
- Arrangements should be sought whereby Czechoslovakia would
agree to cooperate, not only with the United Nations Relief and
Rehabilitation Administration, but with other United Nations
relief agencies, and to coordinate its economic policies and
practices with the overall program adopted for post-war
rehabilitation and economic reconstruction.
- 23.
- The United States may participate in loans and in arrangements
for supplying technical assistance to Czechoslovakia in order to
speed the process of economic reconstruction in Europe as a
whole.11 [Subject to approval of the general
principle.]11a
- 24.
- Czechoslovakia should be accorded an equitable share of any
payments in kind which the defeated Axis states may be required
to make under a general agreement among the United
Nations.
Originally prepared and reviewed by the
Inter-Divisional Committee on the Balkan-Danubian Region.
Reviewed and revised by the Committee on Post-War
Programs, June 8, 1944.
