English Translation

Antn 8 19 Letter from Dr. Eduard B e n e s naeh Prague. A Chikago, 22 June 1939. Dear friends! I send you the following authentic news: l.) It is to be expected that the Arieg will break out in the next few weeks. This conviction is already common today, according to my last information also in English and French government circles. So about July or August It is necessary to be prepared. Of course, this does not mean that we know it with absolute certainty, but it is the most likely eventuality. 2.) We are eagerly preparing ourselves here. We have important sights, but not insurmountable ones. We don't have enough money - the last news from Prague told me that the money is coming. I am now organizing a financial action, on the one hand, a collection of money between our Americans, and on the other hand, I am collecting among the American financial groups, just if I wait for help from Prague. Our simple people in America, France and elsewhere are good, the Slovak automonists are quite powerless. Individual leading people do not work together enough. But also - I hope - this is overcome. Absolute unity exists between with, Masaryk, Hurban, Slavik Fierlinger, Ripks, Smutny, the majority of the conauls and their new employees. With Paris, that is Ösusky, there is no perfect harmony. I do not do anything to widen the dispute. Disputes are superfluous. They have a factual and ideal basis. I assume that unity will come to an end when serious and tested events occur, and I will not let any serious clash come between us. There and there Ten denzen show themselves to distinguish between left and right here, too. I also fight this everywhere I can. I ask you, supported by your orders, the unity where you can. The strongest incitement comes from Kahanek, who claims to be emissary of Beran and with this also in connection. 3.) We support by all means the authority of the embassies and consulates for the most important expression of our independence. Also in the case of a non-agreement with Paris I support the authority and do nothing to weaken it. I would, however, ask that, if this is possible, it be said from home that unity must finally be established, that everyone must submit to a single leadership, and that all other embassies and consulates have done so. No one wants to take Osusky away from anything, but the inconsistency and uniform leadership could become fateful in the decisive eye view. I have the impression that beyond the borders one expects that the so-called legal circles in us will consistently support one or the other individual. I would like to make sure that all these things are eliminated. I reject the principle of whether they come from the right or from the left.