Abstract
Based mainly on the materials of the Congregation for Extraordinary Ecclesiastical Affairs (Segreteria di Stato, Sezione per i Rapporti con gli Stati, Archivio Storico, Congregazione degli Affari Ecclesiastici Straordinari, fondo Rapporti-Sessioni), the study examines the complicated relations between Czechoslovakia and the Holy See in 1919-1928. In comparison with materials from the Czech archives, it outlines the topics that were crucial for one side or the other and whether and where there was a space for negotiation and manoeuvring.
The importance of the Czechoslovak issue discussed by the Holy See is shown by the number of meetings that dealt with it and by the personal views of the members of the Congregation. The Congregation's minutes show that the diplomatic conflict that erupted in 1925 had been threatening since 1921.
The Holy See saw the legalization of the Jan Hus holiday in 1925 as a key issue, while the Czechoslovak political leadership, especially Edvard Beneš, underestimated the situation. The Czechoslovak leadership had to find a compromise not only with Vatican diplomacy but also with the left-leaning public opinion in Czechoslovakia.
Part of the difficult negotiation of a mutual compromise involved disinformation, or the shifting of information.