Evening star., 1948-02-27
GottwuId Ministers
Difficult to Accept,
President Declares
By the Assoeiutsd Press

Eduard Benes today swore in a
new government loaded with
Communists-a cabinet he is re-
ported to have said could have
only evil results" }
The frail, weary President re-
ceived Communist Premier Klement
Gottwald and the IL new members
of the cabinet at the Presidential
Palace and told them "the deci-
sion to accept you was difficult per-
sonally for me-"
The meeting was polite and stiff
ly formal. AS the President spoke
Communists throughout the coun-
try were. going ahead with swift
determination to reorganize the
countrys entire industrial, educa-
tional and everyday life.
A presidential secretary said DR..
Benes has not resigned, but would
not make any further comment for
the time being.
GottwaId Thanks Benes.
The Ministry of Interior ordered
Communist-inspired Action Com
mittees to fill vacancies in local and
regional national front groups
whose members have resigned or
been fired in the growing purge.
The government radio carried an
account of what happened at Hrad-
cany Palace today. 1t said Gottwald
promised the president his govern
ment would be constitutional, DEM
ocratic and parliamentary" and
that he thanked DR.. Benes "for your
confidence"
A close friend of the President
said last night that DR.. Benes had
told Gottwald this new government
could have only evil results and
that he yielded to Communist pres
sure only because he feared civil
war.
you're talking to me like Hitler"
this informant quoted the President
as telling Gottwald.
The government radio-like other
outlets now completely
in the hands of the Communists
said the President told Gottwald
at the swearing-in ceremony he
wished that your way will be Sue
cessful and happy"
War Veterans Under Fire.
Gottwald was said to have
thanked Dr. Benes and replied:
"The attempt to split the govern
ment was wilful act against the
interests of the people. The people
wanted to throw out the traitors and
wanted an assurance of a peoples
democracy. You, MIR. President,
helped dissolve the crisis"
Meanwhile, the Legionaries of
World War I came under fire. Josef
David, chairman of Parliament and
a National Socialist of the old re-
gime, is their leader. DR.. Benes is
honorary commander of the Legion
aries.
Veterans of World War II criti-
cized the older veterans as having
wavered during the political crisis,
and demanded they be excluded
from government activity.
Mr. David's group had sought to
take part in the action committees.
He long has been a confldant of
DR.. BeneS.
Last night the government radio
announced 80 professors, described
as "reactionary," were fired from
600-year-old Charles University.
The Ministry of Education said to-
day the firing was not permanent.
The professors, it said, were sacked
because of their party affiliations,
but their academic qualifications
will be reviewed.
Families Given Lodgings.
Action committees in one Prague
district began seizing lodgings and
turning them over to families of
workers.
Other action committees hit at the
Boy Scouts and the Girl Guides,
took over Bohemian distilleries for
fired two National
Socialists from the government radio
station, removed the secretary gen.
eral of the soccer association.
The cabinet crisis arose when IL
anti Communist ministers submitted
their designations last Friday to pro-
Test an order of the Communist In
5erior Ministry affecting the state
police.
Gottwald, the radio reported, told
Dr.. Benes, II am sure that Parlia-
nent will acknowledge this govern
nent, too"
He was quoted as saying he re-
iected the criticism "of the foreign
countries which were responsible for
Munich"
1--WE have demonstrated to the
whole world the principles of de-
the broadcast said the
Premier told the President.
The radio said President Benes
ISea CZECH PAGE A.61