Evening star., 1947-07-08
By Pertinox
North American Newspaper Alliance


NEW YORK, July 8.-On the eve
of the new Paris Conference, with
Prime Minister Clemento Gottwald
and Foreign Minister Jan Masaryk
engaged in momentous negotiations
at the Kremlin, the fate of Czecho-
slovakia trembles in the balance and
the career of President Edouard
Benes reaches another critical stage.
This writer was in Prague few
weeks ago and talked there to the
men who have raised Czechoslovakia
from the depths to which it fell be-
tween 1888 and 1945. They ex-
planned to him that the privileged
position enjoyed by Czechoslovakia
in Eastern Europe-alone it pos
sesses political freedom, efficient ad-
ministrative services and is in fair
way to achieving material and moral
reconstruction-Was the outcome of
two negotiations successfully con-
Quoted by President Benes in 1945
and 1916, on his return from exile
Those two negotiations were close
ly connected. One led to the con-
clusion of what amounted to a pact
between the Czech Communists and
the other political parties. The
other secured for the Prague gov
ernment the good will and broad
tolerance of Soviet Russia, such as
no other neighbor of the Soviet
Union has to any comparable ex-
tent.
Russia in Mood for Break.
Today, Russia is in a mood to
break away from the western world
AS they grow more and more sus-
picious of the regimes in London
and in Washington, the rulers of
Russia may consider it dangerous to
allow Czechoslovakia to continue as
a democracy imbued with British,
American and French conceptions.
1t devolves principally upon Pre-
mier GottWald-a Communist whom
Mr.. Benes so far appears to have
tamed-and upon Foreign Minister
Masaryk-a man nurtured in the
ways of life of the English speaking
World-to convince Prime Minister
Stain and Foreign Minister Molo-
tov that, in Russia's own interests
Czechoslovakia's national and inter-
national status had better be left
undisturbed, and she should be al
lowed some elbow room at the con-
ference of European states sum-
moned by French Foreign Minister
Bidault and British Foreign Secre-
tary Bevin.
Whether they will succeed cannot
be foretold; but the following facts
disclosed to this correspondent dur
ing his stay in the Czech capital
throw some light upon the shaky
foundations upon which Mr.. Benes
has tried during the last two years
to rebuild an independent and
democratic Czechoslovakia.
The pact with the Communists
provided for changes in the social
structure of Czechoslovakia, but fol
changes limited in scope. Pursuant
to it an agrarian law and a fairly
comprehensive measure of indus.
trial naturalization tit affects from
70 to Is per cent of industrial out.
putt have been put in force.
Standard Farms Provided.
The agrarian law of 1856 went
much further than its predecessor
in the early 20s by which wealthy
farmers alone benefited while agri-
cultural laborers were left outside
This time some 100000 acres have
been distributed and standard farms
of 20 to Is acres methodically carved
out. ..- .-..
The Communists hold themselves
satisfied with what has been done
They don't ask for more. Their mod
Grafton has been recognized by the
other parties. Those gave them q
promise that the social measures
carried out to date would not come
back as issues In the political
struggle.
But how long is the breather going
to last? The Communists gained 80
per cent of the votes throughout
Bohemia and Moravia in the elec-
tions OF May 26, 1916. Were they to
obtain so per cent Of the votes OF
more, they would be freed from all
obligations. They would be entitled
to put forward maximum claims
ContraryWise, if they happened tc
poll fewer votes than last year, Rus
sia might feel uneasy and press
Czechoslovakia for further guaran-
tees of good behavior.
Reds Might Withdraw From Pact.
Indeed, the Communist leaders
who were party to the so-called
agreement of 1856 might Withdraw
from it under the stress of curcum-
stances. Mr.. Benes has managed
so far to keep Prime Minister Gott-
wald in restraint. 1t remains to be
seen whether a violent break be.
tween East and West on the Euro
pean continent could not reawaken
explosive forces among the Czecho-
slovak Communists. Against these
EDUCATIONAL.