DECLASSIFIED 
E.O. 12958, Sec. 3.6 
NLJ '11-llt;J... January 9, 1967 _.QQfi'.fIDEih:IAL BY.~.NAR.ADaa,z~..,7 
MIX>RA!illlM FOR / 

WALTW.~ 
This memorandum. follows our conversation regarding recent 
discussions I have had with a Mr. PavlisJ Cultural Attache of the Dribassy 
of Czechoslovakia. 

I have known Mr. Pa.vlis for about a year, and u.ry relations with him are very cordial in that we both deal with the arts. I have been to the embassy, and o~en attend showings of Czeck films at the M:>tion Picture Association of America. Mr. Pa.vlis has met several members of our Arts Council, and on one eccasion attended a reception for the entire Council held at Roger Stevens' home in Georgetown. 
At the time of the remval of the American citizen (whose nt.me escapes me) from an airliner, diverted from its flight to land in Prague, I met Mr. Pavlis at the MP.AA during a f'ilm showing, and took him aside to tell him how deeply diaiu,rbed I ws. I assured him that I did not, and could not, speak for our government, but asserted that many of our of'f'icials were distressed. (I ma.de no mention of the other cases, at that time and later, affecting National Security. ) In that a Czeck film, "The Shop on Main Street," had recently won the Acadelll" A-.rd :tor the best toreip :film. of the year, Mr. Pa.vlis said he, too, -. tiatreaeed and at a loaa tor an. explanation but he would a~k to the .Allbaaaador. 
At a subsequent ..tine; 4ur1na a cocktail party I belieTe, Mr Pavlis twice took me ae:l4e to 41acu.aa thia •tter, and a--4 to be ~ me out, casually, as to how aerioua I tbollOt the ai"•tioa •• aa4 ilOW it would af'f'ect mutual relat10D.a .Alt._ •t 1"1.tWal to _,.. tor W. _....... ment, I said it ap~to M very aeriou 'tllNl4 IQ\ h 15.Ptlf ptten. I tended to ..,..,.. *our e'l\1'*-1 rel« • .,., JillllU ba4 been improving aou ._..bl:f ht *'1* • dlllir w .., • ••·:•w······.
future dealings. 
• 

Walt w. Rostow -2 
him. on this point, but he backed away. His parting words were something to the fffect that he hoped something could be done to reconcile this problem, "but, you know, it's up to Mr. Rusk, too." What he meant by the latter, I don1 t know. 
'!"his Friday, I have been invited to a Black Tie affair at the Czeclt ~say, which I plan to accept. If this matter comes up again, I 110uld appreciate adviee as to how you wish me to handle the situation. 
~j~ 
lbger Stevens
Special~tant to