English Translation

99 3 17.) Moncherio Italy (Gazetta del Popolo) 18.) v.Strempelsd e Auswärtiges Amt 19.) Dr. Baumann Press Department of the Reichsregierung 20.)v.Schimpff 0" 4 11 The external flow of the visit program from 15.3. to 25.3.1944 is seen from Appendix I żu. The planned programme proved to be too rich after the first few days, since the journalists had not been given any free time to process their impressions in writing. Therefore, the programme was considerably relaxed during the last few days by means of a series of events. From various sides it was also objected against the program that the foreign journalist had been given too much honour by too numerous official receptions at the highest personalities of the protectorate and thus caused too much the impression of their re-promotion. To this end, it has to be stated that by the Department of Cultural Policy of the German Ministry of State, the draft programme has been passed on several times to the Deputy Chief of the Press of the Reichspresse Schännermann with the explicit question whether the rank of the planned events for journalists is not too high and has been answered in agreement by the Deputy Head of the State Press. II. General impressions, pros and cons of the program. The majority of foreign journalists arrived in Prague with an unmistakable skepticism of the local relations. The question of the journalists in the first days clearly revealed their suspicion in this regard. czech journalists, whether the Czech press is allowed to work as an initiator or whether Czech editors would be able to present required editorials for signature. For example, Domei-Vertreter Tomoeda asked several Czechs whether they were actually Czechs or whether only Sudeten Germans speaking Czech were shown to them in Prague. The question was repeatedly asked to leading German officials whether the Czech officials in the authorities had anything to say at all, or whether they were only the sole law enforcement bodies of the few, but all the same