Evening star., 1947-07-10
|Czechs Ba|kinq
AtAid Farley
As Reds Press
Progue Cabinet Goes
Into Special Session
After Moscow Coll
By the Associated Press

PRAGUE. July 10.-Sources
close to the Government said
today Czechoslovakia, by Moscow
request, would withdraw her ac-
ceptance of the invitation to the
European economic conference
at Paris.
The cabinet went into hasty spe-
cial session after hearing by tele-
phone from Moscow, the informants
said. 1t was believed the cabinet
heard directly from its Communist
Premier. Klement Gottwald, who
flew to Moscow yesterday for talks
with Prime Minister Stain.
If Czechoslovakia should withdraw
from the Paris conference on the
Marshall laid Europe proposal" it
would virtually complete the boycott
Of the talks by Russia and the states
within her orbit in Eastern Europe.
Two to Be Heard From.
Only Finland and Albania still
were to be heard from, and there
seemed little likelihood that either
would accept.
Hungary today joined Bulgaria,
Romania. Yugoslavia and Poland in
rejecting the British French invita-
ton to the talks.
Fourteen other nations already
have accepted the invitation to the
Paris conversations, opening Satur-
day. Today is the deadline for
replies.
The Prague cabinet session came
only u hours after the Czechoslo-
vaks decided, apparently of their
own volition. to accept the Paris
invitation with some reservations.
The reasons which might have
prompted Premier Gottwald to call
from Moscow with a request for
withdrawal could not be ascertained
here Immediately.
un Moscow, reliable sources at
the CzeChoslovak Embassy said
a statement of the Czechoslo-
vak-Soviet discussions possibly
might be made tonight)
Trade Links frightened.
Czechoslovakia, the only Slav ma
ton to announce acceptance of the
Paris invitation, continued mean
while. to tighten her trade links
with nations in the Soviet orbit.
The government announced pro-
visional trade exchange pact with
Hungary and waited for results
from another mission in Moscow
pressing for increases in the exist
ing Russian commercial agreement
with Russia.
Some sources in Prague ques-
toned whether Czechoslovakia's
present trade pacts with the East.
probably continuing the favored
nation" factors, might not In effect
make her ineligible for actual par
ticipation in program of unified
economy for Europe which excluded
the Russians.
Already 13 per cent of Czechoslo-
vakia's foreign trade is with Russia.
Firms May Not Accept.
Albania was expected to follow the
lead of Russia, whose Foreign Min
lister Molotov opposed the plan for
economic cooperation in three
power talks last week. Observers last
night said there was only $3.50
chance that Finland would accept
Hungary's Council of Ministers
announced after long session this
morning that Hungary regrets it
cannot participate in a conference
in which all big powers do not take
part together To some observers.
the decision was surprise, because
of Hungary's gave economic condi-
ton
A Polish government spokesman in
Warsaw, commenting on Poland's
rejection of the bid, told news con-
ference the Poles still looked to the
United States. principally, to supply
what would be necessary to rebuild
the ravaged nation. Poland recent
ly sent notes to ENJOYS of the four
big powers expressing Poland's will
ingness to participate in European
reconstruction through coal deliv-
cries, but regretting that the nations
invited to the Paris conference
would be excluded from making
amendments and changes in the
Marshall proposal.
Swiss State Conditions.
Switzerland, meanwhile. announced
three conditions for her participa-
ton. The government announced
that the Swiss would assume no OBJ
legations contrary to Switzerland's
traditional status as neutral; that
the conclusions reached at Paris
concerning Swiss economy would be
subject to Swiss government ap-
proval, and that the Swiss reserved
(See MARSHALL PLAN, Page A-D
In A. -