Here are two wonderful letters from Vlado to his “Mamka”. The first one was sent just after a new government was formed in former Leopoldville headed by Prime Minister Cyrille Adoula. Vlado was trying to quit smoking at the most intense time in the Congo Crisis, too! I admire his resolve at self-mastery, but he deserved that cigarette.

3.8.61

Dear Mom,

Finally, after a lot of procrastination and negotiations I formed a government and I can say with a clear conscience that it would not have happened without me. Not only did I have to flatter them and draw up the entire government program for them, but I also had to draw up the protocol on the conspiracy and the establishment of the government in the end.

After the meeting of the parliament, when everything was safely approved, I lit a cigarette for the first time in 11 days! At first, it was very difficult for me to deny myself, but now I’ve given up enough and I don’t really want to smoke, I just suck on menthol cigarettes all the time.

[Sture] Linner, the American and English ambassador, was waiting for me in the office with champagne when I came down from the parliament with the news that we have a government. Thank God I’ve managed to avoid all the journalists so far, I’m keeping my fingers crossed that it continues.

Now I have to start working on plans to get the United Nations and especially the army out of there as soon as possible without making a mess. As soon as its on the way (and if nothing happens by then) I’ll start thinking about leaving.

I will try to write to Frau Tag and [Kornel] Filo before the end of the week, but until now I have had neither the time nor the mind to do so.

Kisses

Vlado

Thanks to Miroslav Kamenik for his help translating this letter!

21.8.61

Drahá Mamka,

dúfám že si dobre dostala list čo som Ti dal poslať cez Rím a že si teraz uspokojená. Hja (MK – povzdech ve smyslu zlehčení až rezignace), musím doháňať čo sa mi pokazilo kým som bol v Europe, keď mi ?pripustili ?Laov(MK – Laos je možný, toho roku Čína a Laos navázali diplomatické styky), Číňanov a iných zloduchov do Stanleyville – teraz mám šarapatu (MK – mrzutost) s ich zlym vlivom. No dúfám že po minulom týždni veci pojdu lepšie – len Katanga eště zostáva tvrdý oriešok.

Poslední list od Teba je datovaný 13 augusta, poslaný 14 augusta – išel tyždeň. Držím sa eště ?úzdy ako nefajčiar.

Bozky

Vlado

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Dear Mom,

I hope you received the letter I sent you via Rome and that you are now satisfied (at ease?). Hya (MK – „hja“, sigh in the sense of belittling and resignation), I have to catch up with what went wrong while I was in Europe, when they ?allowed ?Laos(MK – Laos is possible, that year China and Laos established diplomatic relations), Chinese and other bad guys to Stanleyville – now I have a quarrel (MK – annoyance) with their bad influence. But I hope that after last week things will go better – only Katanga remains a tough nut to crack.

The last letter from you is dated August 13, sent August 14 – a week has passed. I am still holding on to the ?bridle like a non-smoker.

Kisses
Vlado