Evening star., 1949-07-16
Swiss Carefully Guard
I Czech Tennis Stars
Who Renounced Reds
BY the Asseciaisd Press

by the A.soeioted Press
GSTAAD, Switzerland, July 16
Security police kept q wary
eve on Czechoslovakian diplomats
today as Jaroslav Drobny and
Vladimir Cernik. tennis stars, who
renounced the Communist Czech
government, faced each other
in the semifinals of the Swiss
championships.
Drobny defeated Cernick, 60.
81, to enter the final against
Earl Cochell of the United States.
Drobny and Cernik gave strict
orders to the Swiss that they were
not to be contacted for any reason
whatsoever by members of the
Czech Legation-and their wishes
apparently were being carried out.
Jan Zalenka. cultural attache
of the Czechs, demanded to be
taken to their room. but was re-
eused. He then said he wished
to talk to them by phone. but the
Swiss security police, who were
rushed from Bern to protect the
athletes, also vetoed that idea.
Seek Refuge in u. s.
The actual tournament has
been pushed to the background
while players and officials specu-
late on the results of the move
In Joint statements. Drobny, a
mainstay of the Czech Davis Cup
team and a fine hockey player
and Cernik denied they ever
were Communists, and said they
wished to take refuge in the
United States.
The statement came on the
heels of orders from Prague for
the pair to return home imme-
diately because two Germans and
a Spaniard were participating in
the tournament.
We wish to state that We are
sportsmen. completely devoted to
tennis and in no way connected
with politics." the statement said.
I'VE therefore have decided to re-
spect Swiss hospitality, and shall
play to the end of the champion
ship. ."
Communist Link Denied.
Drobny. in denying that either
he or Cernik ever had been a mem
Der of the Communist Party, said
People thought so because we
were allowed to leave Czecho-
slovakis. but the fact is they only
let us out because of good
publicity"
Meanwhile. in Prague. the official
Czech radio accused the two
players of "treachery.' and going
over TO the pay of capitalistic
entrepreneurs."
Two questions arose as a result
Of the action:
/. What about their families in
Czechoslovakia?
2. Would they be able to get into
the United States?
There seems to be no Immediate
answer on the first point. Cernik
has q wife and 3-year- old son in
Prague. Drobny leaves his mother
and 80-year-old father. manager
of Prague tennis court. Drobny's
father reputedly is a Communist.
Favorable U. s. Reception Seen.
On the second question, all signs
point to favorable reception for
Drobny and Cernik in the United
States. The State Department in
Washington said 1t would grant a
sympathetic" hearing to any re-
quest the stars might make to
enter the United States.
Officials said, however. that it
was impossible to say exactly what
action would be taken on visa ap-
plications because none had been
received. In diplomatic language,
this meant that they probably
would have no trouble.
Former Czech Ambassador Juraj
Slavik. himself a political refugee
in the United States, said in
Washington that he had known
from confidential sources for some
time that Drobny and Cernik had
been trying to flee their homeland.
They tried to do it in Italy last
year." he said. but they decided
to walt until after the Wimbledon
~ m pi0n shin tniS uaorr