Hearings

pose of this institute is the overt spreading of Czechoslovak propaganda and the exercise of covert Czechoslovak Communist Party control over the Czech and Slovak minorities abroad.

Mr. ARENS. Was Krchmarek's association with the Czechoslovak Foreign Institute one of the reasons why the Czechoslovak Government was so interested in keeping abreast of all developments regarding Krchmarek's indictment for violation of the Smith Act?

Mr. TISLER. I am certain that the Czechoslovak Government did not want any information to appear in the American press regarding Krehmarek's association with the Czechoslovak Foreign Institute, as this could have been interpreted by American authorities as an indication that Krchmarek was either a political action agent of Czechoslovakia or that Czechoslovakia was using Krchmarek as a means of interfering in the internal affairs of the United States.

Mr. ARENS. Do you know if Krehmarek was an agent of the Czechoslovak Government?

Mr. TISLER. Krchmarek met various members of the embassy staff on various occasions and furnished them with information on a wide variety of topics. As an example, Krchmarek met Ambassador Petrzelka in New York during August 1958, and at this meeting Krchmarek told Petrzelka that Krchmarek had recently been made a member of the Executive Committee of the Central Committee of the Communist Party of the United States of America. At this meeting Krehmarek informed Petrzelka as to the trends and developments which were taking place within the Communist Party of the United States of America. This information was subsequently relayed by Petrzelka to the International Section of the Central Committee of the Communist Party of Czechoslovakia.

Mr. ARENS. Are you aware of any incidents or occasions in which Krchmarek received funds from the Czechoslovak Government? Mr. TISLER. I mentioned earlier that the Czechoslovak Government made contributions to Krchmarek's defense fund at the time that Krchmarek was on trial for violations of the Smith Act. I am also aware of the fact that Krchmarek had requested that Ambassador Petrzelka obtain financial support from the Communist Party of Czechoslovakia for the activities of the Communist Party of the United States. At the same time, I know that Ambassador Petrzelka Las paid Krchmarek funds to cover travel expenses involved in Krchmarek meeting Ambassador Petrzelka in New York. In January 1956 Petrzelka advised Prague that Krchmarek was without funds, and it was Ambassador Petrzelka's recommendation that he be authorized to pay Krchmarek $3,000 for living expenses and propaganda activities.

Mr. ARENS. Who in Czechoslovakia directed Krchmarek's activities in the United States?

Mr. TISLER. The correspondence relating to Krchmarek was either sent to the Czechoslovak Foreign Institute, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, or the International Section of the Central Committee of the Communist Party of Czechoslovakia. It is my opinion that the direction of Krchmarek's activities in the United States was furnished by the International Section of the Central Committee of the Communist Party of Czechoslovakia. This opinion is based to a large extent upon the fact that information was sent to Krchmarek from the International Section of the Central Committee of the Communist

Party of Czechoslovakia, and this material was relayed to Krchmare via the good offices of the embassy staff.

Mr. ARENS. What can you tell us about the relationship betwee the Czechoslovak Embassy in Washington, D.C., and Charles Musil Mr. TISLER. I know that Charles Musil was, or even still may be the editor of a Czech-language newspaper which is published in Chicago Illinois, under the title, Nova Doba. In December 1955 the Czecho slovak Ministry of Foreign Affairs requested that the Czech Embass in Washington, D.C., offer advice as to whether the Czechoslova Foreign Institute should establish direct contact with Musil in orde that this institute could send Musil propaganda material which the wanted to appear in Nova Doba. I don't know what the results of thi correspondence were, but I am aware of the fact that the Nova Dob newspaper is Communist-dominated and generally follows the lin of the international Communist movement. I also recall that i November 1956 the Czechoslovak Embassy in Washington, D.C. advised the Ministry of Foreign Affairs in Prague that Musil had bee accused by United States authorities as being a member of th Communist Party of the United States.

Mr. ARENS. Are you aware of any other activities which Musi conducted on behalf of the Czechoslovak Embassy or the Czechosloval Government?

Mr. TISLER. In January 1956 Musil had several meetings with Ambassador Petrzelka and, during the course of these meetings furnished the ambassador with information related to Krchmarek's status and difficulties. In this period Ambassador Petrzelka used Musil as an intermediary between himself and Krchmarek. The us of Musil as an intermediary seems to have its origins in the fact that when Ambassador Petrzelka talked to Soviet Ambassador Zarubin in January and February 1954 regarding Ambassador Petrzelka's con tacts with Krchmarek and the Communist Party of the United States Soviet Ambassador Zarubin recommended that in view of the likely harmful repercussions which could develop if the Krchmarek tria revealed that Krchmarek was in direct contact with members of the Czechoslovak Embassy, it was recommended that this contact be handled via intermediaries. In this connection Zarubin told Am bassador Petrzelka that the Soviets never maintained direct contact with members of the Communist Party of the United States, because the Soviets wanted to avoid any embarrassment.

Mr. ARENS. Colonel, this session has been extremely helpful, as have our other, off-the-record sessions. I assume that there is no objection on your part to our ultimately making today's session a matter of public record.

Mr. TISLER. In view of the fact that we have been careful to see that the material which we discussed today will not result in any harm coming to innocent people who are still behind the Iron Curtain, I do not have any objections to today's session being made a matter of public record.

The CHAIRMAN. Colonel Tisler, I want to take this opportunity to thank you for your excellent cooperation. At the same time, I want to assure you, on behalf of the United States Government, that we will render all possible assistance in helping you to build a new life for yourself in the United States which will give you the freedom that you want.