English Translation

Z transcript. Confidential! File note. Mr. v. Gregory erg. S Prague, 23 March 1939. Subject: Dr. Benesh's activity in America. Before a few days ago, the director of the Mars publishing house, Simon, told me confidentially that he had certain indications that Dr.Benesh had either begun a strong anti-German activity in the Americas or that he would do so soon. Dr.Benesch had said that he had gone away in confidence that this would make him easier for his country and preserve his independence. This condition had also led him to declare that he no longer wanted to engage in political activity. But now this has not been fulfilled and he will now work for the restoration of independence abroad just as he did in 1914. He will not only establish a maffia, but also a counter-government for the Tsch.-Sl., and he is convinced, indeed he already knows that America, England, France and Soviet Russia will recognize this government. Mr. Simon thinks that the time when this would happen in public would be a reasonable time for the Czechs to know what they are doing, to cause dangerous unrest, and would be logical. If there were to be a declaration of war by the mentioned powers against the German Reich, which Dr.Benesch would certainly expect, this would also be a very critical sight for the peace in Bohemia. This would be achieved if the Hacha government were not able to do so and one would then have to resort to the old "Národni český Vbor".