Note from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Czechoslovak Socialist Republic to the Embassy of the People's Republic of China in Prague

[Handwritten] 9.2.1967

Copy         Secret 

[illegible stamp]

No. 021.136/67-3

The Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Czechoslovak Socialist Republic sends its regards to the embassy of the Chinese People’s Republic in Prague and refers to the note of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs no. 020.898 of February 3,1967, in which it emphatically protested against the threats to Czechoslovak diplomatic representatives in Peking by demonstrators on January 26, 1967, and against the damage done during this incident to the diplomatic vehicle. A vigorous protest was also made by the embassy of the Czechoslovak Socialist Republic to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Chinese People’s Republic on January 28, 1967. Both protests included a request to the Chinese authorities to take effective measures against the repetition of similar incidents.

The Ministry of Foreign Affairs sharply condemns fact that the responsible Chinese authorities not only did not carry out the fully documented and justified request of the Czechoslovak Socialist Republic, but on the contrary unleashed calls for more incidents, in which were crudely insulted the special and plenipotentiary ambassador of the Czechoslovak Socialist Republic in the Chinese People’s Republic, other Czechoslovak diplomats and their families, as well as a Czechoslovak journalist  who was accredited to the Chinese Peoples’ Republic. Involved were the following incidents:

On February 5 in the evening, the ambassador of the CSSR In the Chinese Peoples Republic was despite his protests forcefully held by Chinese citizens who, for more than 50 minutes prevented his departure from the main building of Peking’s airport, the Czechoslovak flag was torn from his official vehicle, and it was forcibly opened. The same day were at the airport vilified and insulted other Czechoslovak diplomats and their family members, and were barred from freely moving.

On February 3 was forcibly detained the correspondent of the Czechoslovak Press Agency and of the “Rudė Právo” in the Chinese People’s Republic, and his vehicle was pasted and painted with insulting statements.

Ministry of Foreign Affairs is making an emphatic protest against the growing attacks on representatives of the Czechoslovak Socialist republic aimed this time even against the dignity of the special and plenipotentiary ambassador of CSSR in the Chinese People’s Republic, and against intentional creation of incidents that have as their objective rendering impossible normal diplomatic activities. The Ministry of Foreign Affairs also resolutely protests that Chinese authorities allowed defamation of the supreme symbol of the state with which the Chinese People’s Republic maintains diplomatic relations.

Because of these extremely serious incidents, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs requests with utmost emphasis immediate halting of provocations against the embassy of CSSR and its employees, adoption of effective measures for the protection of Czechoslovak citizens and Czechoslovak property, and restoration of conditions for the execution of normal functions of the embassy and for normal life for Czechoslovak citizens in the Chinese People’s Republic. The Ministry of Foreign Affairs also requests that perpetrators of the recent incidents be punished, and it reserves the right to demand compensation for all damages caused to Czechoslovak objects.

The Chinese government has the full responsibility for these incidents, which are harming friendship between the people of CSSR and the Chinese People’s Republic, and damage mutual relations.

The Ministry of Foreign Affairs uses this opportunity to assure the embassy of the Chinese People’s Republic in Prague of its respect.

In Prague, February 9, 1967.

Embassy of the Chinese Peoples’ Republic

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