Evening star., 1948-03-11
Mosoryk
Continued From First Page.)

In his last public news conference.
upon his return from the 1947
United Nations Assembly meeting
in New York. "I am glad to be
back with my little people"
That was the last time western
correspondents saw him in any
number. During and after the po-
litical crisis that saw Czechoslovakia
20 under Communist control, he de-
MED himself to western newsmen.
They got no farther than his
secretaries, who said Mr.. Masaryk
swould not see them. He was being
quoted by Polish journalists and
other correspondents from Eastern
Europe in interviews, and no ex-
planation was given.
What politics, what policies lay
behind his moves and his state
ments while he remained non
party member OF the Communist
controlled government may never
be known.
What went on in his mind
through sleepless night in his
apartment in the Foreign Ministry's
Ozernin Palace was compelling
mystery in the personal life Of Mr..
Masaryk and the political life of
his country.
His government said officially that
he Was i'll, suffered from insomnia,
was overWrought from reading re-
proachful messages from friends In
England and America, and In
nervous crisis ended his life.
Cheerful to Old Servants.
This, on its own testimony, was
transition that came within eight
hours after he was described as end
ing a cheerful day on cheerful note
of farewell to two old servants.
No suicide note has been men
toned. Mr.. Masaryk was found
huddled on the stone tagging, his
head unhurt, his eyes closed, the
eficial version said. The cause Of
death still was to be made known
by post-mortem examinations.
His closest friends expressed no
doubt that Mr. Masaryk had ended
his own life.
However, the urgency of his rea-
son was big question, because Mr..
Masaryk had shown himself desir-
Gus OF remaining alive to fight for
peace.
His every public speech in the
last six months had argued that
the world must not be divided:
that between Moscow on the one
Saeod ood IKyo ctioot1Y, nv, tho of fhor
there must be an end to quarreling.
He was one man who had
chance to talk to both sides, in
f1awless English to the one, in Rus
sian and Slav dialect to the other.
His firm stand against German ag-
gression bespoke his good reputa.
ton in eastern quarters.
Many questions were raised by his
death.
Was he suspect or at least in dis
favor In Moscow?
Was he suspect or in disfavor In
his own government?
Had Mr.. Masaryk's frank talk in
private conversation initiated
against him?
I1c UOlU bIliS correspondence pIl-
vately in Paris year ago he de-
plored the lack of sense Of humor
in the Russian diplomat. and what
he called the Soviet bad sense of
public relations.
This correspondent never has re-
peated that statement to others.
But if Mr.. Masaryk said it casually
to one, he may have said that and
more to others.
What did he discuss with Presi-
dent Eduard Benes for four hours
on Tuesday, in his first long talk
this week with his old friend? Only
a year separated them in age, but
Mr.. Benes always has been re-
garded as an old man, Mr.. Masaryk
as young one.
Did rejection Of the Slav minis
ters' demand for representation in
London talks on German recon-
struction and possible aggression so
dishearten him as to send him on
a death plunge?
Or had Mr.. Masaryk reached the
horrifying personal decision that
his work to keep the world together
was entirely hopeless?
Those questions are unanswered; (;
~