Foreign Relations of the United States, 1961–1963, Volume XVI, Eastern Europe; Cyprus; Greece; Turkey

25. Memorandum of Conversation⁰

Washington, November 13, 1963, 10 a.m.

SUBJECT

• The Czechoslovak Ambassador Presents His Credentials

PARTICIPANTS

• The President
• Dr. Karel Duda, Czechoslovak Ambassador
• Mr. Angier Biddle Duke, Chief of Protocol
• Mr. John M. Dennis, Officer in Charge of Czechoslovak Affairs

The President welcomed Ambassador Duda to Washington and thanked him for the cordiality shown Secretary Hodges during his visit to Czechoslovakia.¹ He asked the Ambassador what he thought were the major matters of interest between the United States and Czechoslovakia. Dr. Duda said his Government desires to maintain good relations with the US and he believes there are possibilities to further relations, especially in the fields of culture, science and trade. The principal difficulties in the Czechoslovak view concern:

1. The settlement of the economic-financial negotiations.

2. Increased trade, which Czechoslovakia foresees as being possible once prerequisites are established to enable it to export more to the United States and in turn to import more from this country.

3. The need for the United States to register positive moves toward Czechoslovakia to correspond with what it believes are positive steps it has taken toward improving bilateral relations.

However, to be frank, the Ambassador had to point out that the travel restrictions imposed on November 12 were, in his Government’s view, a step backward and suggested a period in our relations which he had believed was a thing of the past.²

The President referred to the severe limitations on travel in the Soviet Union and said the United States is concerned that so much has been invested in its security that it was now necessary to establish travel controls. These are essential to our standard of security. They are not a harassment of Czechoslovak officials and are not directed against Czechoslovakia. They are not a political act but are simple security measures. He understood the Ambassador’s concern and said we do not wish to maintain these measures as a permanent thing. Dr. Duda replied that the problem here is that measures of this sort are followed by corresponding measures which tend to complicate relations.

On the question of trade, the President agreed that it would be difficult to expect Czechoslovakia and other Eastern European countries to buy more in the United States unless they were at the same time able to sell more here. He then referred to the limitations regarding MFN and to the recent Senatorial discussions concerning this subject. The President said he would be glad to see this situation changed and trade be kept out of the political arena. However, he believes that if relations improve, and he hopes they will, this problem may be solved.

He was aware, the President said, that Czechoslovakia has taken certain steps to improve relations. He believes it useful to all to maintain normal relations. He hoped, therefore, that our relations would improve further during the course of Dr. Duda’s assignment. Certainly, he said, the desire to improve relations is as strong as it has been for a long time. However, the President added, the recent Soviet arrest of Professor Barghoorn³ makes it difficult for the United States. Temperatures tend to rise over incidents of this nature, but, he continued, we must persist in our efforts to attain normal relations.

With respect to his own country, Dr. Duda said problems existed but he believes the situation there is improving. He noted that Czechoslovakia has concluded a contract to purchase grain in Canada and a Czechoslovak official is currently in New York negotiating the purchase of corn, rice and 250,000 tons of wheat.

The President said he hoped the grain purchases go along well and asked the Ambassador to come back anytime.

0. Source: Department of State, Central Files, POL 17–1 Czech-US. Confidential. Drafted by Dennis and approved by the White House on November 15.
1. Secretary of Commerce Luther H. Hodges visited Czechoslovakia September 8–9.
2. For texts of the November 12 statement outlining travel restrictions on East European diplomats, the U.S. notes to individual countries, and a list of U.S. counties closed to travel, see Department of State Bulletin, December 2, 1963, pp. 860–863.
3. On November 12, the Soviet Union announced the arrest of Professor Frederick C. Barghoorn 2 weeks previously on charges of espionage. Following a personal intervention by President Kennedy, Barghoorn was released on November 16 and expelled from the Soviet Union.