PURCHASES OF INDUSTRIAL DIAMONDS BY CZECH AND POLISH LEGATIONS IN BRAZIL

Document Type: 
Collection: 
Document Number (FOIA) /ESDN (CREST): 
03166314
Release Decision: 
RIPPUB
Original Classification: 
U
Document Page Count: 
2
Document Creation Date: 
March 9, 2023
Document Release Date: 
December 3, 2021
Sequence Number: 
Case Number: 
F-2020-01519
Publication Date: 
January 22, 1953
File: 
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PDF icon PURCHASES OF INDUSTRIAL D[15992893].pdf124.01 KB
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Approved for Release: 2021/10/22 C03166314 FEB 1952 CENTRAL INTELLIGENCE AGENCY CLASSIFICATION 1pth ECURITY INFORMATION INFORMATION REPORT REPORT NO. CD NO. COUNTRY Bramil SUBJECT Purchases of Industrial Diamonds by Czech and Polish Legations in Brazil DATE OF INFO. 1949, 1952 DATE DISTR. 22 January 1953 NO. OF PAGES2 NO. OF ENCLS. (LISTED BELOW) PLACE SUPPLEMENT TO ACQUIRED Brazil, Rio de Janeiro REPORT NO. THIS DOCUMENT CONTAINS INFORMATION AFFECTING THE NATIONAL DEFENSE OF THE UNITED STATES, WITHIN THE MEANING OF TITLE 18, SECTIONS 793 AND 794, OF THE U.S. CODE, AS AMENDED. ITS TRANSMISSION OR REVE� LATION OF ITS CONTENTS TO OR RECEIPT BY AN UNAUTHORIZED PERSON IS PROHIBITED BY LAW. THE REPRODUCTION OF THIS FORM IS PROHIBITED. SOURCE (b)(3) (b)(1) (b)(3) *Except as noted THIS IS UNEVALUATED INFORMAT/nm (b)(1) (b)(3). 1. The Czech Legation in Rio de Janeiro is reported to have made its first purchase of Brazilian diamonds in November 1949 from Nelson Santos, a whole- sale diamond merchant with offices a4 Avenida Rio Branco #108 in Rio. The pd2ohase was arranged by. Jan Ulreich l, an employee of the Polish legation in Rio, who learned of Czech interest in obtaining industrial diamonds in February or March 1949 from Jan Rosa and Greg rio Biller, Czech Commercial Attache and Assistant Commercial Attache respectively. Having received an authorization from Prague to make certain purchases, Rosa requested Ulreich to contact local diamond merchants to locate the type and quantity desired. Ulreich had some difficulty, since the merchants wished to sell their diamonds in lots, while the Czechs had instructions to buy diamonds only of a certain size and quality. However, Ulreich finally located Santos, who was willing to sell diamonds to meet the CFech specifications, and the transaction was finally completed in Santos� home� ,Santos supplied a receipt, without tax stamps, on his office stationery, for 500,000 cruzeiros� which were given him in cash by Rosa. The diamonds, which were of sufficient quantity to fill two cigarette packages, were later transmitted to Europe via diplomatic courier, and Rosa subsequently stated that Prague was very pleased with the quality and price of the diamonds. Rosa also stated confidentially that the 3ovietp did not need Brazilian diamonds, since they were making their purchases in Montevideo and Europe. eke The categories, number and price of the industrial diamonds ordered by Rosa in May 2949 were reportedly as followss CLASS1 Fl CATION STATE # 3c NAVY # x NSRB DISTRIBUTION ARMY # X AIR # X FBI # X OIT lxi I Approved for Release: 2021/10/22 C03166314 Approved for Release: 2021/10/22 C03166314 SECRET (b)(3) Diamonds - Industrial Type First Quality - for dies Order Weight pressed carat (to be used in fine wire drawing)---- in carats 1 1/16 Cr$. 300,00 2 1/8 360,00 3 1/4 450oo 4 1/2 600000 5 1 800,00 6 2 19000,00 Good Quality, Industrial 1 1/16 200,00 2 1/8 240,00 3 1/4 280,00 4 1/2 34000 5 1 400,00 6 2 500900 Second Quality, Industrial 1 1/8 130,00 2_ 1/4 180,00 3 1/2 220,00 4 1 250000 e 2 300100 First Quality, Diamond 1 1/4 220,00 2 1/2 27000 3 1 300,00 4 2 350900 5 3 45o,g0o Santos also offered to sell diamonds to the Polish Legation and received a letter dated 4 April 1949 from Polimex, Polish export and import company for machines and tools, indicating an interest in diamonds for equalizing grinding wheels. It is not known whether Santos completed this negotiation, or whether other puthases were later made by the Czech or Polish Legations. When Mieczyslaw Jakobsking, Commercial Attache of the Polish Legation, was approached in December 1952 concerning the purchase of industrial diamonds, hp stated that Poland was making its purchases of industrial diamonds in Europe and was not interested in Brazilian diamonds. On the insistence of the questioner, Jakobskind cabled Warsai about the matter, at the questioners expense, and received a negative reply. (b)(1) (b)(3) SECRET Approved for Release: 2021/10/22 C03166314