249.1111–Oatis, William/12–851: Telegram
The Ambassador in Czechoslovakia (Briggs) to the Acting Secretary of State
priority
447. Only limited progress registered on Oatis case with Foreign Minister. Last evening at further long meeting much of which devoted by Siroky to efforts include steel mill (with implications otherwise Czechoslovakia uninterested settlement) and by me to replying that there is no prospect whatever our agreeing include this item. GATT also mentioned but with less emphasis. No ultimatums and meeting may have represented necessary step toward convincing Czechs that by no ransom, we mean no ransom.
Regarding steel mill argument, I gather Czechoslovak Govt and perhaps also Kremlin may have directed Siroky make all-out effort collect dollars advanced if unable obtain delivery mill, and to try to create impression “no mill, no Oatis.” I answered US recognizes importance steel mill matter to Czechoslovakia but not its relevance to Oatis case. As to Oatis settlement I said I was prepared discuss mill as item of interest to Czechoslovakia in outstanding financial problems, and Czechoslovakia would recognize that at that time US would, of course, be at liberty to include as of interest to US in such negotiations, financial claims against Czechoslovakia amounting to very much more than Czechoslovakia’s steel mill advances. But all that, I reiterated, was unrelated Oatis discussions and continued injection thereof would only delay matters.
Mill item was finally shelved, rather than dropped, and we may hear more of it. Same with GATT in regard to which I likewise held out no hope of our agreeing.
Siroky finally turned to other terms proposed settlement and suggested these be reduced to writing in order facilitate further study “and possible counterproposals by Czechoslovakia.” US proposal accordingly left with him in form unsigned draft letter and press release (texts in following telegram1) and Siroky said he would arrange further talk with me after studying situation light our conversation.
I also referred to desirability going forward with lists of persons proposed for exchange.2
[Page 1435]Notwithstanding frank and at times somewhat vehement give and take, atmosphere last night’s meeting friendly throughout.
Without wishing confuse situation by unprofitable speculation, my guess is that after further haggling perhaps protracted Czechoslovakia may abandon steel mill and GATT, possibly making, however, some further demand of which most likely would in that case probably be “simultaneous restoration CSA flights” instead of discussing same after proposed exchange of persons.
- Telegram 448 from Praha, December 8, not printed. (249.1111–Oatis, William/12–851)↩
- Telegram 418 from Praha, November 27, reported that on the previous day Embassy Counselor Thompson had discussed a possible exchange of prisoners with Czechoslovak Foreign Ministry official Linhart. Thompson presented the list of Americans proposed for exchange, but Linhart had no such list of Czechoslovak prisoners, and indicated that Czechoslovak authorities had not prepared such a list and assumed the United States would furnish one. (249.1111–Oatis, William/11–2751) In telegram 460 from Praha, December 12, Briggs reported that during his conversation with Siroky on December 7, the Foreign Minister showed no interest in proceeding with the lists of prisoners for a possible exchange. The following day Linhart told Thompson that the matter of prisoners lists was in Široký’s hands. (249.1111–Oatis, William/12–1251)↩