Masaryk

Jan Garrigue Masaryk, Czechoslovak ambassador to Great Britain, 1925–38; minister of foreign affairs of the Czechoslovak government in exile in London, 1940–45 and deputy prime minister, 1941–45.

(the Czech envoy) informed me today that yesterday he had a frank talk with Vansittart. M. didn’t hide his concern about the meeting of English and French ministers and the communiqué of 3 February. But V. assured him that Czechoslovakia had no reason to be afraid for her future. He said that England was extremely interested in Czechoslovakia’s integrity and welfare. V. is rather sceptical about the upcoming talks with Germany and hardly expects a positive outcome. Yet such a step should be taken, if only for the sake of enlightening British public opinion. M. said that Beneš

Edvard Beneš, Czechoslovakia’s representative at the Paris Peace Conference, 1919–20; foreign minister of Czechoslovakia, 1918–35; president of the Czechoslovak Republic, 1935–38 and 1946–48; president-in-exile of the Provisional Czechoslovak government in London, 1940–45.

spoke to Laval today on the telephone from Prague and was assured that the Little Entente had nothing to be afraid of: France would continue to adhere to its commitments.