April 30, 1952
The Secretary placed a call to Mrs. William N. Oatis at 1532 Grand Avenue, St. Paul, Minnesota (Emerson 1802). Mrs. Zack, Mrs. Oatis' Mother, suggested that the call be put through to Mrs. Oatis at work-Golden Roff (Advertising Department) at Cedar 2811. The call was so placed.
The Secretary told Mrs. Oatis that a full cable had been received from Ambassador Briggs in Praha stating that the Amb. had had an interview with her husband, who requested that Mrs. Oatis be told of this interview. The Secretary said he would go though the cable and tell Mrs. Oatis what he says.
I saw Mr. Oatis for 30 minutes at the Praha police headquarters this morning in the presence of one police official and two interpreters, one from the Foreign Office. He was in good physical condition, alert and in full possession of her faculties. In fact, the dominant impression was of Mr. Oatis' self-possession and lack of any indication of nervousness throughout the interview. The attitude of the Czechs was correct rather than friendly but the atmosphere was reasonably relaxed.
Mr. Oatis said that his health was good and this was supported by his looks. He said that he had been troubled by insomnia during the early weeks of his imprisonment but he was now sleeping and eating well. His eyes looked clear and normal and he said he was having no trouble with them. Mr. Oatis said he had received adequate dental treatment. He was wearing a clean pressed blue suit, clean shirt, tie, socks and shows, and he had had a recent haircut. His appearance was neat; in fact very much as I had remembered him on his last visit to my
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office shortly before his arrest. His hands and nails were well kept and showed no evidence of manual labor. Mr. Oatis said he was allowed to read and write and gets adequate exercise.
Ambassador Briggs asked, in interviews by the police how he had been treated. Mr. Oatis replied "I have never received physical violence." The police objected but after a while the Foreign Office overruled the police and Mr. Oatis said that "interrogation was protracted." An official then sought to end the interview declaring that ten minutes was all that could be allowed. Ambassador Briggs said that no time limitation had been set at the beginning, and that he had waited for 53 weeks for this interview and he demanded sufficient time to complete questions. The Foreign Officer agreed with that, and the interview went on.
With regard to letters, Ambassador Briggs told Mr. Oatis that the Embassy had been forwarding letters from you about every two weeks and asked if he had received them. He said he had. Ambassador Briggs then conveyed the message from you, sent out the 28th. Mr. Oatis said "please thank Laura Belle, tell her I knew that was the way she would feel." Mr. Oatis says he writes you about once a month and the Ambassador said he would undertake to find out whether the letters had been reaching you. We understand that the last letter you had received was July 10, 1951. Mr. Oatis said that this was true. She said she would certainly have forwarded to Mr. Vedeler, if she had gotten them. She said that she had sort of figured that is was on a monthly basis, since she had one in May and one in June.
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The Secretary said that we will immediately inform the Ambassador that you have not received those, and that she writes once a week. Mrs. Oatis says she has written once a week since the first one back in May, and will continue to do so just in the hopes that he will receive them. The Secretary repeated that the Embassy had been forwarding letters every two weeks by way of the Foreign Office. Mrs. Oatis said that she thought it is most important that he gets her letters. She felt that her morale is not as important as his is and she did hope that he will get her letters. The Secretary said that we will do our best to see that those letters are gotten to him and you get those that come through.
The interview went on with regard to Embassy supplying needs, such as clothing, toilet articles, books, money, etc. to the full extent permitted. The Police officer said no clothing or toilet articles necessary. He said the Embassy could establish a small cash account against which Mr. Oatis could draw for cigarettes, etc. The Ambassador will immediately do so.
The Ambassador then said he wanted to give Mr. Oatis a copy of the Bible which the Ambassador had brought with him and which was inscribed to Mr. Oatis. The police official accepted the volume indicating that it would be delivered to him after scrutiny.
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The Ambassador then asked what else the Embassy was permitted to supply and Mr. Oatis asked for a text book on harmony and composition, and also some Shakespeare. The police officer indicated no objection in principle to such volumes and I add that we will immediately send those to this Embassy for him.
Mr. Oatis inquired if it would be possible for you to have access to funds in his name and in New York bank. The Ambassador would take up a bank draft of a power of attorney and we would forward this through the Foreign Office for his signature. We will get in touch with you to have name of bank.
Mrs. Oatis told the Secretary that it is quite unnecessary actually. I am not in need of any funds. The AP has been most cooperative. I can get an advance if necessary. The name of the bank is the National City Bank of New York. The Secretary assured Mrs. Oatis that he thought it would make her husband happy if he wants to do it.
The Ambassador gave Mr. Oatis personal greetings from members of the Praha staff and from Vice Consul Johnson and Mary Horak, and from UP correspondent Jones. He told Mr. Oatis about the recent AP action of the board of directors on April 22 and of the award by the Overseas Press Club of the Polk Memorial Prize. Mr. Oatis said that this was wonderful.
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The Ambassador then told Mr. Oatis that his efforts to see him had been continuous since his arrest and that the Embassy would arrange for further meetings as soon as this was possible. Efforts on his behalf have never slackened since the moment of his arrest 53 weeks ago and that the Ambassador wished to assure him that the American people and American government would never permit this case to be forgotten.
Mr. Oatis said quietly that he was most grateful for the visit, for the news and for everything, and that he hoped the word of his visit would be sent to you.
With that, 30 minutes expired. We shook hands and Mr. Oatis was escorted from the room.
The Secretary then mentioned that there was a notation that comment follows. The Secretary said that it is certain that another cable is coming in with some of the Ambassador's impressions. The Secretary said that we thought we would prepare a press release after we got the Ambassador's comments and not say anything to the press until we get the other telegram. He hoped that Mrs. Oatis would not say anything about it until we have a day or so to do this. The Secretary said he would write to Mrs. Oatis and confirm all of this so that she could read it.
Mrs. Oatis asked the Secretary if he thought that this has any meaning in the whole scheme of things and that anything can be assumed from it? The Secretary replied that he thought it is impossible to tell from it.
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The Ambassador might have some impression along that line. We have been working for a long time for this interview and we are working for his release. Whether the talks are going to be, whether the Czechs are going to be more reasonable or whether their position of not letting anyone see him-it is hard to tell. Mrs. Oatis said she thought it was encouraging to know that he is all right. And the Secretary repeated that the Ambassador said he looks well and is not being ill treated.
Mrs. Oatis said she was grateful to the Secretary for calling her so quickly. She said she would not say anything until the Secretary had released it. Mrs. Oatis said she had gotten sort of disenchanted about giving out interviews or anything. They don't help her and don't help William. She assured the Secretary that he didn't have to worry about her and the press. Mrs. Oatis said that perhaps some day they would be thanking the Secretary personally.