therefore it is difficult for a proper investigation to be made by the appropriate authorities. I may mention that the Embassy already brought to the Ministry's attention the importance of specific data to support alleged violations.

In view of the fact that it was not the intent of the flight to enter Czechoslovakia, the presence of guns and ammunition therein was unintentional vis-à-vis Czechoslovakia as was the presence of the aircraft themselves. Loaded guns are frequently carried on United States military aircraft on operational training flights within the United States Zone as is common of air forces of all nations when planes are over territory within their jurisdiction. The key point in the matter after all is that the planes were lost and did not cross the Czechoslovak frontier by intention.

I must again remind the Ministry, as the Embassy did in Note No. 558, February 7, that no reply was received to the Embassy's Note No. 422, August 28, 1950, requesting that investigation be made of a number of violations of the United States Zone of Germany by Czechoslovak aircraft. The aircraft guilty of these violations were described in detail. Also, the requested assurances that suitable instructions be issued to Czechoslovak aviators to prevent such violations have not been received. Furthermore, the Embassy has been informed that such violations are continuing.

The United States Government does not admit the right of Czechoslovakia to continue to detain the two pilots of the jet planes landing here unintentionally on June 8, the immediate release of whom is again requested.

25. OATIS CASE: Statement by the Department of State,

July 4, 1951 3

The mock trial of the Associated Press representative at Prague, William N. Oatis, has now been brought to a conclusion. The sentencing is but an epilogue to this ludicrous travesty of justice in which the victim was required to speak his prefabricated "confession" as a part of a public spectacle exhibiting all the usual Com

1 Not printed.

2 Not printed.

3 Department of State Bulletin, July 16, 1951, pp. 92-93. Mr. Oatis was arrested Apr. 23, 1951. On July 4, 1951, he was found guilty of espionage and sentenced to 10 years' imprisonment, subject to reduction to 5 years for good behavior. Three Czechoslovak employees of the Associated Press Bureau at Prague were also sentenced to terms ranging from 16 to 20 years. For the texts of materials relating to the Oatis trial, see ibid., Aug. 20, 1951, pp. 283-288, and Sept. 24, 1951, pp. 489-490. See also H. Con. Res. 140, Aug. 23, 1951; infra. For the text of remarks regarding the Oatis case by Walter Kotschnig, U.S. Representative to the U.N. Economic and Social Council, see the Department of State Bulletin, Aug. 20, 1951, p. 289; see also Economic and Social Council Res. 387 (XIII), Sept. 1, 1951; Economic and Social Council, Official Records, Thirteenth Session, Supplement No. 1 (E 2152), pp. 41-42. The Czechoslovak Government informed the American Embassy on May 15, 1953, that Mr. Oatis had been pardoned; Department of State Bulletin, June 1, 1953, p. 785. For the subsequent exchange of letters between Secretary Dulles and Mr. Oatis, see ibid., Oct. 12, 1953, p. 491.

munist trial techniques. This was prepared and rehearsed in advance under police auspices and by customary Communist police procedures when Oatis was held incommunicado for 70 days between his arrest and presentation in court.

The proceedings revealed the flimsiest kind of alleged "evidence," even more insubstantial than the Communists are accustomed to produce in trumped-up trials of this type. For example, the normal routine requests of the Associated Press for news reports, openly transmitted by wire, were distorted into "espionage missions on orders from centers in New York and London."

Such an attempted hoax on the intelligence of world opinion will fool no one. While it had all the trappings of legal procedure, it was in fact a kangaroo court staged before the klieg lights of propaganda. Its purpose was purely intimidation and propaganda designed to strike at the United States press services and against the free press of the world.

The "confession" of "espionage" was in truth but the admission of an American reporter that, in the high traditions of his profession, he was attempting under the most unfavorable conditions to report a true picture of conditions and events in Czechoslovakia as he saw them.

The Czechoslovak regime has clearly demonstrated that it considers legitimate and normal news gathering and reporting as "espionage.' As the prosecutor publicly stated, Oatis was held to be a particularly dangerous "espionage" agent because he insisted on obtaining accurate, correct, and verified information. To do this is "a crime," according to the concepts of the present Czechoslovak authorities, who find any press activity except the transmission of official propaganda to be "espionage." The Czechoslovak Government thus rejects completely the principle of freedom of information. It is presumed that the press of the free world will so view this turning back of the clock. The proceedings of this especially arranged spectacle also included a number of groundless accusations against the American Ambassador and other members of the United States Embassy staff. These were invented as a part of the entire propaganda performance in attacking the United States.

This action comes as a climax in the treatment of American citizens in Czechoslovakia. It has accordingly been necessary to recognize that it is no longer safe for American citizens to go to that country and to prohibit private travel there until further notice.'

If further evidence were needed, the arrest, the detention for months without access to friend, Embassy representative, or trusted legal counsel, the forced "confession" to fabricated charges, the shabby "conviction" of William N. Oatis shows that the present regime in Czechoslovakia fears truth, hates liberty, and knows no Justice.

See statement of June 2, 1951, by the Department of State; Department of State Bulletin, June 11, 1951, p. 932.

26. OATIS CASE: House Concurrent Resolution 140 (82d Congress, 1st Session), August 23, 19511

WHEREAS the arrest and conviction of William N. Oatis, correspondent for the Associated Press in Prague, Czechoslovakia, is a shocking violation of the fundamental human freedoms guaranteed in the United Nations Charter; and

WHEREAS the treatment of William N. Oatis demonstrates that the Czechoslovak Government has willfully repudiated the principle of free information which is so essential to peaceful cooperation and friendly relations among the people of the world; and

WHEREAS the persecution by the Government of Czechoslovakia of other American citizens is condemned and deplored by the people of the United States, and throughout the free world: Now, therefore, be it

Resolved by the House of Representatives (the Senate concurring), That the Congress of the United States expresses its profound indignation at the arrest, sham trial and unjust conviction of William N. Oatis; that the executive agencies of the Government be requested to take all possible action to bring about his release; and that the sense of this resolution be conveyed by the proper officials of our Government to the United Nations and to the officials of the Czechoslovakian Government.

Be it further resolved, That it is the sense of the Congress that all commercial relations with Czechoslovakia should be terminated immediately, and should be resumed only if and when the Government of Czechoslovakia restores to William N. Oatis his freedom.

27. CZECHOSLOVAK CHARGES REGARDING AMERICAN POLICY IN GERMANY: Note From the American Embassy at Prague to the Czechoslovak Foreign Ministry, September 29, 1951 2

The American Embassy presents its compliments to the Czechoslovak Ministry of Foreign Affairs and has the honor to reply, on instructions from its Government, to the Ministry's note of August 6, 1951, setting forth various charges about U.S. policy in Germany and the activities of the Sudeten population transferred to Germany. The Embassy emphatically rejects the allegation that the U.S. Government is fostering militarism and irredentism in Germany. Such charges have no basis whatever in fact and the Embassy can only conclude that such completely unfounded charges are made for the

165 Stat. B 81. See also summary of remarks of Aug. 29, 1951, by Secretary Acheson to Vladimir Prochazka, the newly appointed Czechoslovak Ambassador; Department of State Bulletin, Sept. 10, 1951, pp. 416-417.

2 Ibid., Oct. 15, 1951, pp. 629–630.

3 Ibid., pp. 628–629.

sole purpose of endeavoring to mislead the peoples of Czechoslovakia and other countries.

As indicated in the Embassy's statement of November 8, 1947,1 the objective of the U.S. authorities in Germany has been, and is, to bring about as soon as possible the assimilation of Germans transferred from Czechoslovakia to the U.S. zone into the German economy and social structure as well as the identification of their interests with those of Germany. This purpose is, of course, being accomplished in a democratic manner, permitting organizations among such persons seeking to protect or improve the welfare of members, and permitting also peaceful and orderly expression of views.

The basic democratic principle of free expression of views including those not concurred in by others is apparently not understood by the present Government of Czechoslovakia. Strict controls over freedom of speech such as are imposed on the people of Czechoslovakia do not accord with democratic traditions on which the Federal Republic of Germany, as well as the Western occupying powers, is based.

In pursuance of the policy of fostering the development of free and democratic institutions in Germany, the Occupation Statute of April 10, 1949, was enacted. Under this statute the U. S. authorities no longer exercise control over the establishment of organizations in the U.S. zone which engaged in political activity. The activities of such organizations are within the scope of the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Germany, which became effective on May 22, 1949.3 This constitution does not provide for controls by a single totalitarian party, such as once existed in Nazi Germany and now exist in certain other countries.

The Ministry has protested because Franz Bluecher, Vice Chancellor of the Federal Republic of Germany, attended a meeting at Frankfort on July 1, sponsored by the Union of East German Compatriots, and made a statement described by the Ministry as "provocative.'

The U.S. Government has found no evidence that Dr. Bluecher in his statement manifested "aggressive designs" as alleged by the Ministry and regrets that his remarks were distorted in this fashion. Dr. Bluecher spoke of the Charter of East German Compatriots adopted August 5, 1950, and took as his principal thesis the following sentence from the charter: "We, the expellees, renounce all thoughts of revenge and retaliation and shall support with all our strength every endeavor directed towards the establishment of a United Europe in which nations may live in freedom from fear and force."

The U.S. Government fails to understand how a speech based on the concept of "a united Europe in which nations may live in freedom from fear and force" which appears to accord with the interests and hopes of all European peoples, is considered "provocative" and "aggressive" by the Czechoslovak Government.

2

2

1 Ibid., p. 629.

A Decade of American Foreign Policy, pp. 586-588.

Germany, 1947-1949: The Story in Documents (Department of State publication 3556; 1950), pp. 283-305.

Steps are now being taken toward the ideal of such a united Europe by various democratic Governments in Europe, including the Federal Republic of Germany. This development is encouraged by the U. S. Government as an important contribution to the stability, peace, and progress of Europe so that smaller nations can live in security and freedom, without fear of attacks and impositions by powerful neighbors such as took place in Central Europe prior to and during the last war, and again in Eastern Europe since 1945.

The U.S. support of peaceful international cooperation in Europe provides a striking contrast to the apparent intent of the Czechoslovak Government as evidenced by the note under reference and other acts. By consistent distortion of facts, by attacking freedom of expression and information both at home and abroad, by seeking to prevent contact between the people of Czechoslovakia and other peoples of Europe whereby free international cooperation may be achieved, the Czechoslovak Government is contributing not to peace but to increased international tension. Such actions, in the view of this Government, are not in the interest of the people of Czechoslovakia or of Europe as a whole.

Despite the accusations of the Czechoslovak Government that the policy of the United States and its allies is aggressive because consideration is being given to including German armed units in European defense forces, the reasons for the present strengthening of West European defenses is clear to all who objectively examine postwar developments. At the close of the war the United States and other Western countries, looking forward to a peaceful future after years. of bloodshed, effectively demobilized their forces.

In contrast the Soviet Union alone maintained vast numbers of men under arms. At the same time that country embarked on a policy of breaking agreements designed to serve as the basis of future peace, initiated a policy of conquest and threatened European peace further by arming satellite regimes, including that established in the Soviet zone of occupation in Germany.

The free countries of Europe, in cooperation with the United States, had no recourse therefore but to take measures for common defense. While undertaking such a program, however, the concept of a united Europe is not lost sight of but strengthened. The Czechoslovak Government in abetting Soviet propaganda and tactics appears to stand firmly opposed to efforts of free countries to ensure their freedom and working peacefully together.