I. On January 7th, 1941, a communication was  
transmitted by President E. Benes to His Grace Msgr. W. Godfrey,  
the apostolic representative in Great Britain, emphasising  
the following points:
 
 
 
Immediately after the Armistice (in 1918), I  
entered, as Foreign Minister of the Republic, into diplomatic  
relations with the Holy See and began negotiations regarding  
the delimitations of the dioceses, the Church property, etc. There were   
many difflcultles: In 1924, and again in 1927  
new and very serious disturbances occurred in this sphere.  
But in 1927 I definitely succeeded in selling all those  
questions, in creating a definitive Juridical basis for  
future relations: the so-called modus vivendi between the  
Holy See and the Czechoslovak Republic was agreed upon, and  
normal and friendly relations were definitely established.  
From that date the mutual relations were good and collaboration   
was developing without difficulties. I cannot forget  
especially the most sympathetic attitude of His Holiness  
Pope Pius XI towards Czechoslovakia during the September