The Czechoslovak Review/Volume 3/First American minister in Prague

FIRST AMERICAN MINISTER IN PRAGUE.

The announcement made by the State Department on April 18. that Richard T. Crane, Jr. was appointed the first American minister to the Czechoslovak Republic was nowhere received with more approval than among American citizens of Czechoslovak ancestry. They know Mr. Crane to be a sincere friend to the new state to which he is accredited.

 

Richard Teller Crane, Jr.

 

Richard Crane was born in Champaign, Ill., 33 years ago, son of Charles R. and Mary Crane. His father is well known in America as former head of the Crane Company of Chicago, manufacturers of valves, fittings etc. , an establishment that employs many hundreds of Bohemian workingmen. Mr. Crane Sr. is still better known as philanthropist and student of Slavic and Eastern affairs. Richard Crane studied law at the University of Wisconsin and Nebraska, held important positions under the Crane Company, and for the last four years has served as Mr. Lansing’s secretary. As such he came into close relations with President Masaryk during his stay in Washington last summer. It may be stated confidently that Mr. Crane will be cordially welcomed in Prague, where he will find a number of personal friends. It is announced that he will sail on May 3rd.

The new minister will have with him as a member of his official family Captain Frank Jedlička who will serve as military attache of the Prague legation. Vladimir Geringer, American trade commissioner, with his secretary Louis Jalovec, and John Bouchal, viceconsul in Prague, are already at their posts. The United States Government will thus have several representatives in the Czechoslovak Republic able to speak the language of the country.