Evening star., 1934-05-27
Miracle Man of Diplomacy


world Of which he would be an i'm
portant figure.
But these were childish dreams. In
those days he was entirely uncon-
scious of his future vocation. The
thought of entering the foreign serv-
ice did not even occur to him-he had
no desire to enter the Austrian for
eign service, and he would have been
mad to think that Bohemia could be-
come an Independent republic in less
than score Of years. The old order
seemed to be safely intrenched.
An inexplicable urge made Benes
turn to France for further enlighten-
ment. When he arrived at the Care
de IEst, there was so crowns in his
pocket-hardly enough to live on for
fortnight. Paris was not unknown
to him. He knew its slums and the
glories Of the Quarter st. Germain
from the writings of his favorite au-
thors. ~41
Made Friends With Anarchists.
In dingy room of the Left Bank
he made his new home. How he loved
the creaking stairs which led to his
"gite," his sleeping place! He was
enamored with the Sorbonne, where
he studied sociology and philosophy.
Murgers Latin Quarter had q special
charm for him. He made friends with
young anarchists and terrorists who
tainted at the sight of q finger cut by
glass. He settled the affairs of the
world over cup of cafe au lait. He
would sit for hours in the Chamber
OF Deputies, dreaming and scheming,
seeing himself as the hero Of parlia-
mentary battles. II became attached
to France" he wrote later, because of
the traditions of her great revolution,
the broad perspectives of her national
history I returned home a con-
v1nced radical and revolutionary
Before returning home, however. he
matriculated at the University of
Dion, which was meeting place
OF Czech students, and there took his
doctors degree. He selected his sub
Ject, "The Austrian Problem and the
Czech Question" and suggested au-
tonomy for the Czechs in the exist
ing framework of Austria, under the
continued rule of Hapsburg. In those
days before the war no young Czech
revolutionary dared to dream Of an
independent CzechoSlovakia.
Back to his native country young
Benes went, and at Prague he had an
invitation from Prof. Thomas @.
Masaryk to call on him. The profess
sor was the hope Of the Czech patri-
OTIS, but what could he do to give
expression to the national will? With
Masaryk's help, Bones was appointed
professor at the Prague Academy of
Commerce. He was then as years
old. Three years later he was lee
turer of sociology at the Czech Uni
versity Of Prague. His career was
now clearly outlined; he would be-
come professor in due time.
Grasps Importance to Country.
Then the World War broke out
1t swept DR.. Benes from his academic
surroundings and thrust him into the
very center of the European diplo-
matte whirlpool. His master, Prof.
Masaryk. and he quickly grasped the
world catastrophe's Importance to
their country. They realized the
weakness Of the Hapsburg empire and
knew 1t would hardly be able to stand
up against the terrific pounding 1t
would receive at the hands Of the
allies. There were only q handful of
them ready to take the consequences.
Masaryk went abroad to sound out
the foreign powers, to supply them
with reliable news and to put his
Continued on Sixth Pase)