PURCHASES OF INDUSTRIAL DIAMONDS BY CZECH AND POLISH LEGATIONS IN BRAZIL

• Document Type: FOIA
• Collection: FOIA 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
• Case Number: F-2020-01519
• Publication Date: January 22, 1953

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
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*Except as noted
THIS IS UNEVALUATED INFORMAT/nm
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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
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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.
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Approved for Release: 2021/10/22 C03166314