AGREEMENT ON THE EXPANSION OF THE EXTRACTION OF ORES AND CONCENTRATES IN THE CZECHOSLOVAK REPUBLIC CONTAINING RADIUM AND OTHER RADIOACTIVE ELEMENTS AND ON THEIR DELIVERIES TO THE UNION OF SOVIET SOCIALIST REPUBLICS

Strictly Confidential

AGREEMENT

between the Government of the Union of Soviet Socialist Republics and the Government of the Czechoslovak Republic concerning the expansion of the extraction of ores and concentrates in Czechoslovakia containing radium and other radioactive elements, as well as their deliveries to the Union of Soviet Socialist Republics.

The Government of the Union of Soviet Socialist Republics and the Government of the Czechoslovak Republic have agreed as follows:

Article 1

The Czechoslovak Government shall establish a state enterprise for the exploration and exploitation of all deposits containing radium and radioactive elements belonging to the Czechoslovak State.

Article 2

The Czechoslovak Government shall take all necessary measures to maximize the extraction of ores and concentrates containing radium and other radioactive elements in the area of the town of Jáchymov.

Article 3

The Government of the Soviet Union shall provide comprehensive technical assistance for the exploration and exploitation of the above-mentioned deposits. Such assistance shall consist of the dispatch of specialists for the organization of prospecting and industrial exploration of deposits, as well as for the extraction of ores and concentrates, together with the supply of the necessary equipment and materials.

Article 4

Both Governments shall establish a permanent Czechoslovak-Soviet Commission headquartered in Prague and composed of four members, two appointed by each Government.

The Commission shall have the following responsibilities:

a) To formulate directives for the expansion of geological exploration and for increasing the extraction of ores and concentrates.

b) To prepare extraction plans for ores and concentrates. Basic plans shall be prepared sufficiently in advance for a period of at least five years and shall provide for progressive increases whenever geological exploration results justify such expansion.

c) To resolve all issues arising in connection with the implementation of the agreement concerning technical assistance and deliveries.

d) To determine the prices of ores, concentrates, and radium in accordance with Article 5 of this Agreement on the basis of production costs plus a normal rate of profit.

The Commission shall operate under a separate statute.

Its decisions shall be valid only when approved by both parties.

In the event that the Czechoslovak and Soviet members of the Commission fail to reach agreement, the matter shall be submitted directly to the two Governments for resolution.

Article 5

The Czechoslovak-Soviet Commission shall determine, in accordance with Article 4, what portion of the extracted ores and concentrates shall remain in Czechoslovakia for its essential economic and scientific needs.

All remaining extracted ores and concentrates containing radium and other radioactive elements shall be delivered to the Union of Soviet Socialist Republics.

Fifty percent of the radium recovered in the USSR from ores and concentrates supplied from Czechoslovakia for processing shall be returned to Czechoslovakia.

Mutual settlements arising from the transfer of ores and concentrates for processing in the USSR and from the return of radium to Czechoslovakia shall be carried out on the basis of prices for ores, concentrates, and radium established by agreement between the two Governments. Any resulting balance shall be settled either through deliveries of goods or through payment in foreign currency, as agreed by the parties.

Article 6

The Soviet side agrees to the dispatch to Czechoslovakia of:

• one specialist serving as Technical Director,

• one specialist serving as Chief Engineer,

• one specialist serving as Head of Technical Control of the Jáchymov enterprise.

Article 7

Both parties agree to exchange scientific knowledge concerning the utilization of ores and concentrates containing radium and other radioactive elements.

Article 8

This Agreement shall enter into force immediately upon signature and shall remain valid for a period of twenty years.

Done in Prague on 23 November 1945 in two authentic copies, each in the Czech and Russian languages, both texts being equally authentic.

For the Government of the Czechoslovak Republic

H. Ripka

For the Government of the Union of Soviet Socialist Republics

I. Bakulin

PROTOCOL TO THE AGREEMENT BETWEEN THE GOVERNMENT OF THE CZECHOSLOVAK REPUBLIC AND THE GOVERNMENT OF THE UNION OF SOVIET SOCIALIST REPUBLICS ON THE EXPANSION OF THE EXTRACTION OF ORES AND CONCENTRATES IN CZECHOSLOVAKIA CONTAINING RADIUM AND OTHER RADIOACTIVE ELEMENTS AND ON THEIR DELIVERIES TO THE UNION OF SOVIET SOCIALIST REPUBLICS

Strictly Confidential

In connection with the signing today in Prague of the Agreement between the Government of the Czechoslovak Republic and the Government of the Union of Soviet Socialist Republics concerning the expansion of the extraction of ores and concentrates in Czechoslovakia containing radium and other radioactive elements, as well as their deliveries to the Union of Soviet Socialist Republics, the following has been agreed:

1.

Of the total quantity of ores and concentrates containing radium and other radioactive elements extracted during the first five years of the validity of the aforementioned Agreement, a quantity not exceeding ten percent shall remain in Czechoslovakia for its economic and scientific needs.

2.

The Government of the Czechoslovak Republic shall make suitable premises available in Jáchymov and Prague for the Soviet members of the Czechoslovak-Soviet Commission, as required.

3.

For the purpose of ensuring the confidentiality of the extraction of ores and concentrates containing radium and other radioactive elements, and of their deliveries to the Union of Soviet Socialist Republics, the Czechoslovak-Soviet Commission shall establish appropriate regulations in the Jáchymov mines and in any other enterprises within Czechoslovakia that may be involved.

4.

The above Agreement between the Government of the Czechoslovak Republic and the Government of the Union of Soviet Socialist Republics shall be treated as strictly confidential.

Done in Prague on 23 November 1945 in two authentic copies, each in the Czech and Russian languages, both texts being equally authentic.

For the Government of the Czechoslovak Republic

H. Ripka

For the Government of the Union of Soviet Socialist Republics

I. Bakulin

DIRECTIVES FOR THE UTILIZATION OF FORCED LABOUR CAMPS

Ministry of the Interior

Reference No. 6497/010-1349

Strictly Secret

Directives for the Utilization of Forced Labour Camps

Introduction

The idea of establishing forced labour camps in Czechoslovakia arose in the previous year following the Sokol Rally. At that time it became evident that reactionary forces and the remnants of the capitalist class were recovering from the crushing blow dealt to them by the events of 1948 and were attempting either to regain their lost positions or at least to hinder the construction of socialism.

The events surrounding the Sokol Rally clearly demonstrated the resurgence of reactionary elements. At the same time, it was observed that the working people, led by the working class, viewed with resentment the fact that remnants of the bourgeoisie continued to live lives of luxury and idleness after February 1948, thereby provoking the greatly intensified efforts of working people to transform the republic into a socialist state.

These circumstances created among the working masses a demand and spontaneous pressure for action against the class enemy, to be achieved by compelling such persons, either voluntarily or under coercion, to participate in the economic reconstruction of the country.

On this basis, the law establishing forced labour camps was enacted.

Following the adoption of the law, however, the entire capitalist world launched attacks against Czechoslovakia and its People's Democratic Government. The capitalist press and radio used the opportunity to conduct a large-scale campaign accusing the state of introducing “Hitler-style concentration camps” and similar institutions.

According to the document, the practical results nevertheless remained inadequate.

Nearly one year after the law entered into force, fewer than 3,000 persons of both sexes were held in approximately twenty-five camps adapted for this purpose. A substantial proportion of these individuals had been sent to the camps not from a class perspective but rather for social reasons, including alcoholics, prostitutes, habitual idlers, and persons damaging labour discipline.

As a consequence, a law intended primarily as a class weapon against the remnants of the capitalist class had, up to that point, been used largely as an instrument for removing socially undesirable elements from society, while affecting the bourgeoisie as a class only to a limited extent.

At the same time, the State Security Service had uncovered various reactionary conspiracies during the preceding twelve months, leading to the prosecution of several thousand offenders.

Analysis of the participants in these anti-state activities indicated that, apart from certain misguided individuals, they consisted almost exclusively of members of the bourgeois class or their supporters.

The document further states that anti-state rumours, acts of sabotage, boycotts of economic measures, the distribution of illegal leaflets and publications, and attempts at espionage on behalf of Western imperialism were predominantly the work of reactionary elements and representatives of the bourgeois class.

It was therefore considered necessary to employ the law on forced labour camps genuinely as a class weapon in the struggle against the remnants of the capitalist class.

DIRECTIVES FOR THE UTILIZATION OF FORCED LABOUR CAMPS (CONTINUED)

The existing system for assigning individuals to forced labour camps proved inadequate. Although the legally established three-member commissions in the regional capitals attempted to fulfill their duties, it became evident that the principal weakness lay in the failure of local bodies—particularly the security officers of district national committees, district action committees, trade union organizations, and other institutions—to prepare and submit proposals for the assignment of persons to forced labour camps.

Their activity was regarded as insufficient both in scope and in its class-oriented approach.

For this reason, it was decided that the identification of persons suitable for assignment to forced labour camps would be entrusted to the State Security Service (StB). Owing to its daily activities, the State Security Service was considered to possess the necessary knowledge of both active and passive class enemies.

In cooperation with the Communist Party and the Action Committees, the State Security Service was expected to carry out this task effectively.

Target Groups

From a political perspective, priority was to be given to representatives of the capitalist class who remained in the country after February 1948 without participating in socialist construction.

These included in particular:

• major industrialists,

• factory owners,

• large shareholders,

• former bankers,

• wholesale merchants,

• former bank directors,

• former representatives of liberal professions associated with capitalist interests (such as building contractors and lawyers),

• former large landowners possessing between 50 and 250 hectares of land.

A principal aid in this effort was to be a compiled list of wealthy individuals, referred to in the document as a list of “millionaires,” containing approximately 16,000 names.

Second Target Group

The document further identified the regime’s principal political opponents as:

• persons dismissed from the state administration after February 1948,

• former military officers,

• former members of the security services,

• former civil servants,

• so-called “victims” of post-February political changes,

• lawyers deprived of the right to practice,

• former directors,

• small business owners,

• former public officials.

According to the document, many of these individuals were believed to harbour deep hostility toward the socialist system.

Third Target Group

Attention was also directed toward former political figures from the period of the First Czechoslovak Republic, including:

• members of parliament,

• senators,

• political secretaries,

• leading representatives of the Agrarian Party,

• the Trade Party,

• the National Democratic Party,

• the National Unity movement,

• various right-wing political organizations.

In addition, attention was directed toward political activists from the period of the German occupation, particularly:

• officials of the National Partnership (Národní souručenství),

• members of the Vlajka movement,

• officials of the Kuratorium for Youth Education,

• representatives of other fascist organizations.

Fourth Target Group

The document further called for the investigation of prominent political figures active between 1945 and February 1948, especially:

• leaders and senior officials of the National Socialist Party,

• representatives of the Democratic Party,

• members of the right wing of the Social Democratic Party.

Implementation

The transfer of individuals to forced labour camps was to continue formally in accordance with the relevant legislation. Decisions were officially to remain in the hands of the legally established commissions operating in the regional capitals.

In practice, however, the proposals were to be prepared primarily by the State Security Service.

The document explicitly states that the objective was to identify and remove persons regarded as decisive enemies of the working people and of the people's democratic state.

According to the text, this would make it possible to “remove and neutralize thousands of people preventively.”

The camps were also intended to serve as a deterrent. Assignment to a camp was expected not only to punish existing opponents but also to discourage others from engaging in anti-state activities.

Relocation from Major Cities

Particular emphasis was placed on removing members of the bourgeoisie from locations considered undesirable, especially:

• Prague,

• other major cities.

In many cases, assignment to a forced labour camp was to be accompanied by an order to vacate the individual’s residence and by a determination of a new place of residence following release.

Planned Scale of the Operation

The operation was scheduled to begin:

• on 1 October 1949 in Prague,

• on 15 November 1949 throughout the rest of the country.

The stated objective was:

to assign 3,000 persons per month to forced labour camps.

This target was to be maintained until the completion of the Five-Year Plan.

The document concludes by expressing confidence that the energetic implementation of these directives would fulfill one of the major political tasks established by the leadership of the Communist Party and would contribute to the struggle against class enemies.

Prague, 8 August 1949

For the Commander of State Security

Pokorný

INTRODUCTORY PROVISIONS TO THE BASIC CAMP REGULATIONS OF FORCED LABOUR CAMPS

BASIC CAMP REGULATIONS

Section 1

Purpose of Forced Labour Camps

Forced labour camps shall be established and administered for the following purposes:

a) To serve as places where terms of deprivation of liberty imposed pursuant to Section 12, Paragraph 3 of Administrative Penal Act No. 88/1950 Coll. shall be served in cases where the manner in which the offence was committed demonstrates that it expressed, or was intended to express, a hostile attitude toward the People's Democratic order of the Republic or toward its socialist construction.

b) To hold persons pursuant to Section 36 of Criminal Act No. 86/1950 Coll. who, during the execution of their sentence, failed through their conduct and work to demonstrate improvement sufficient to justify the expectation that they would lead the orderly life of a working citizen, and who were assigned to a forced labour camp by commissions of regional courts pursuant to Section 279 of Criminal Procedure Act No. 87/1950 Coll.

c) To educate persons assigned to forced labour camps under Section 12, Paragraph 3 of Act No. 88/1950 Coll. and under Section 36 of Act No. 86/1950 Coll. toward productive and collective labour as a civic duty, toward observance of the rules of socialist coexistence, and toward integration into the ranks of working people following their release from the camp.

Section 2

Administration of the Camps

The administration of forced labour camps for the fulfillment of the purposes set forth in Section 1 shall, throughout the territory of the Republic, fall within the authority of the Ministry of National Security.

The Ministry of National Security shall administer the camps:

a) directly;

b) through camp headquarters, which shall simultaneously serve as the administration of each individual camp and shall be responsible to the Ministry of National Security for fulfilling the purposes of the forced labour camps.

Regional, district, and local national committees and their subordinate bodies shall, within the limits of their authority, assist in ensuring that the objectives of the law are fulfilled.

The Ministry of National Security may delegate certain aspects of camp administration and supervision to regional national committees within whose jurisdiction a camp is located.

Each camp shall constitute a single administrative and economic unit.

Section 3

Transfer of Persons to a Forced Labour Camp

a) The transfer of persons to a forced labour camp for the purpose of serving a sentence under Section 12, Paragraph 3 of Act No. 88/1950 Coll. shall be arranged by the Third Departments of the District National Committees on the basis of a final and legally binding decision. The sentenced individual shall be instructed to report for service of the sentence at the appropriate reception camp.

b) The transfer of persons under Section 36 of Criminal Act No. 86/1950 Coll. shall be arranged by the competent courts on the basis of decisions issued by the judicial commissions of the regional courts. The District Offices of the National Security Corps (SNB) shall arrange the escort of the assigned individual to the nearest reception camp.

Persons Excluded from Transfer

The following persons may not be transferred to a forced labour camp for the purpose of serving a sentence:

1. Persons who are physically or mentally incapable of residing or working in a forced labour camp.

2. Persons over sixty years of age.

3. Persons under eighteen years of age.

Persons referred to under points 1 and 2 shall serve their sentences in administrative detention facilities.

Persons referred to under point 3 shall serve their sentences in special institutions for juveniles.

Further details concerning the transfer of persons to forced labour camps shall be governed by the Directives for the Administration of Forced Labour Camps.