| Content | The Ministry of Foreign Affairs is forwarding the attached letter containing a record of Charlotte Martinů’s lunch at the Czechoslovak Embassy in Paris and is proposing a joint meeting with the Ministry of Education and Culture on this matter.
The attached letter systematically addresses the individual points regarding Bohuslav Martinů’s estate that were discussed during the aforementioned lunch.
ChM attended the lunch along with Vojtěch Strnad and the ambassador in Paris. ChM was delighted with her meeting with Václav Kopecký, who promised her financial assistance for the construction of her house in Pierrefonds. The ambassador suggests that all donations be sent through the embassy to save ChM money and to stay in contact with her. ChM praised the achievements of Czechoslovakia and spoke critically of the USA, Switzerland, and France. Regarding BM’s American citizenship, she noted that in the USA, BM was not considered an American. When Charles Munch went on tour to the Soviet Union with the Boston Symphony Orchestra, the authorities insisted that he play at least one piece by an American composer at every concert. Ch. Munch replied that he had BM’s compositions on the program, but learned that BM was Czech, not American. ChM herself had trouble regaining French citizenship. ChM was thrilled by the performance of MIRANDOLINA at the National Theater in Prague and recommends including this production in the Theater of Nations. BM wished to be buried in Polička, and ChM has now promised to arrange for his remains to be transported from Switzerland. BM wished for a music school to be established in the house in Polička, and ChM would store his library there. ChM requests that the embassy in Bern be informed in detail, as ChM will be negotiating with them. When she reported BM’s death by phone, the staff member in question did not even know who BM was. ChM praises the Czech editions, and therefore it would be appropriate to pay attention to this. ChM spoke of her humble origins and her profession as a seamstress. She spoke enthusiastically about the successes of the Soviet Union and welcomed Nikita Khrushchev’s trip to the U.S. The ambassador intends to maintain relations with ChM, who herself requested occasional invitations to the embassy.
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