בוקע הקרח פראג1939

בוקע הקרח מנפץ מראות עקומות של היסטוריה

האתר של בוקע הקרח (עמותה רשומה)

לגיליון חדש!

מפת הזירה

כיתבו אלינו!

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Text of 3 documents: Linnell's tranmission, Anonymous letter, the Report.

Consul Linnell's transmission of November 20, 1939

AMERICAN CONSULATE GENERAL

Prague, Bohemia, November 20, 1939.

CONFIDENTIAL

Subject: Transmitting a Translation of an Anonymous Letter and its enclosure, a
Report of an Interview with and Official of the Soviet Government.

The Honorable

The Secretary of State

Washington

Sir,

I have the honor to transmit herewith a copy in translation of an anonymous letter received by this office, together with a copy of a translation of the enclosure thereto, a protocol containing the report of an interview said to have been given delegates of the Committee for the Liberation of Czechoslovakia by Mr. Alexandrov, the chief of the Central European Division of the Commissariat for Foreign Affairs.

In the typewritten copy of the protocol received with the anonymous letter the names of the delegates were given, but were scratched out with ink. Although some of the names could be deciphered, they are unknown to this office, and it is therefore impossible to verify the authenticity of the document. The title of those signing the document is given as "soudruh", or comrade. However, the reasons for the desire of the writer of the letter to withhold his name and those of the delegates is obvious, and the translation is transmitted as of possible interest to the Department.

Respectfully yours,

[signature]

Irving N. Linnell,

American Consul General

Enclosure:

Translation of anonymous

letter and of protocol

In quintuplicate to the Department of State;

one copy to Embassy, Berlin.

800

KFP/ABI

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The Anonymous Letter

Translation

Prague, November 17, 1939

To the American Consulate General,

P r a h a .

Enclosed you will find a copy of the protocol which I just received. I beg you to excuse me for not signing this letter and having scratched out the names of the delegates mentioned in the protocol because if this letter would get into wrong hands our ultimate fate would be the same as that of other members of our nation, i.e., death caused by torture.

(Initialled) J.L.

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The Protocol [Report]

Translation

P r o t o c o l

drawn up with the following members (delegates) of the Committee for the Liberation of Czechoslovakia on October 26, 1939:

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The undersigned delegates submit herewith a report about their negotiations with Moscow authorities and the Komintern. Whatever is mentioned in the report are true facts confirmed by our honor.

After our departure from Prague on July 17th last, we made all possible efforts to get to the USSR. In view of the fact that we had to use illegal ways we reached Moscow not sooner than on August 3rdlast.

As soon as we got in touch with the resident Czechoslovaks, we asked for a hearing by Stalin and Molotov. Although our appeal was repeated we were not received. Finally on October 5th and October 12th, respectively, we were received by M. Alexandrov, the chief of the Central European Division of the Commissariat for Foreign Affairs.

In answer to our irritation voiced against the Soviet-German treaty, we were told that that had to happen because if the USSR had concluded a treaty with the Western Powers, Germany would never have unleashed a war from which will develop world revolution which we have been preparing for a long time. Lenin succeeded in building up Communism while Stalin, as a result of his foresight and wisdom, will lead Europe into a world revolution. You of Bohemia and the rest of Europe erroneously use the expression of Soviet Russia, when in fact we are the USSR. Stalin is not the chairman of some kind of Russia, but of the USSR. Our activity therefore must be considered from that point of view. All our State officials must, in the first place, be Communists. It is for this reason that Stalin, who is not a Russian, is able to rule over states in which Russians are in the majority.

In so far as the treaty is concerned, the following may be pointed out:

1) It caused the war;

2) Hitler directly forced upon us a free hand in the Baltic;

3) He gave us a chance to build up Greater Ukraine and White Russia;

4) By having surrendered and placed himself at our mercy, Hitler surrendered to us also Germany, the bulwark in Central Europe;

5) He gave us a free hand in our dealings in Bessarabia and also in your former Sub-Carpathian Russia;

6) He opened our way to Europe.

We received the following explanation to the above:

1)       A surrounded Germany would never have entered into war. Hitler felt convinced that he succeeded in what he had accomplished in the case of Czechoslovakia. He always uses the same methods: Divide and rule. In that matter he instigated you against the Slovaks and the Poles. He used Munich to arouse distrust between you and the West. He instigated the Slovaks against the Magyars and the Poles. He is happy and contented that he separated the USSR from the West.

2)       Whatever Great Britain refused to give us was actually offered to us by Hitler because he realized the substance in our negotiations with the West. The USSR has been excluded from the European overseas trade and commerce. By having gained bases in the Baltic we succeeded in gaining economic and military control there. As a result of his narrow-mindedness, Hitler enables us to establish bases against himself. We will have no difficulties to Bolshevize the Baltic States.

3)       He offered us a partition of Poland which we also got without any losses.

4)       By having concluded a treaty with us, Hitler blocked his own way into other states. Economically, he depends upon us alone and we shall direct his economy in such a way as to drive the belligerent countries into revolution. A long war will cause revolution in Germany and France. We will supply the Germans so that they will still be hungry.

5)       Hitler's plan is to get control of south-eastern Europe. When that happens we will regain Bessarabia and Sub-Carpathian Russia.

6)       As a result of the economic treaties he opened our route into Reich. His war will exhaust Europe which then will fall in our lap. The peoples will accept any regime which will follow after the war.

Only two states exist which may block our way and prevent a realization of our plans, i.e., Italy and Great Britain. Fortunately, and Anglo-Italo-French block will never be concluded. Hitler assured us that he has sufficient influence and power to control Ciano and Mussolini and prevent either by intrigue or the like any rapprochement between Italy and the Western states. We cannot afford Germany to lose because if she would come under the control of the West and Poland re-established, we would be cut off from the rest of Europe. The present war must last as long as we want. In the event that Italy would enter the war against Germany, the end of the war would be accelerated. We have no fear about Japan. Her hatred of us was broken by Germany. For the rest, Japan is very much engaged in China through our efforts, and we spend enormous amounts of money to keep the war going. Keep calm because never before was the time more favorable for our interests than at present.

In reply to our intervention concerning our arrested people, we were told that there must be sacrifices. Revolution arises from oppression and misery. The more sacrifices are made, the sooner and the more cruel will be the revolution.

We had a chance to convince ourselves that in the USSR their regime is maintained by keeping the people at the lowest possible standard. As a result of the general impression gained there, we came to the conclusion that it will be best for our nation to abandon Communism and turn to the Western Powers – to the Democracies.

(Signed) XXXXXXXXXXX XXXXXXXXXXXXX

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