Evening star., 1950-06-18
By A. |. Goldberg

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13 million people into submission,
mark two milestones in mid-June
on their march to- unadulterated
Communism.
On June IA, former Premier
Klement Gottwald began his third
year as President of the little
Western looking country he ce-
mented into the Russian orbit
February Is, 1948.
Since that day of bloodless terror
and revolution. the Czechoslovak
Party's battle cry has been "On
the Road to Socialism With
Klement Gottwald." Guarded by
heavy forces of police and security
officers, Gottwald has escaped at
least two known assassination
attempts.
On June 10, Archbishop Josef
Beran enters on the second year
of enforced stay in his Hradcany
palace in Prague, where he fed
from Communist hecklers who
broke up services last June 10 in
st. Vitus Cathedral. He is certain
police who constantly watch the
palace will arrest him If he
emerges.
Communist President and papal
priest are the keys to future de-
velopments in a country that has
become under Gottwald like a
huge prison camp. Most Of the
people are trustees as long as they
are on good behavior. Moscow
trained Communists are the
wardens.
New Drive Expected
The road to socialism with Gott-
wald has been studded with alter
nate attempts to eradicate the
Roman Catholic Church and with
spy trials of sympathizers with
Western nations. The most viru-
lent Of anti-Western trials has
just ended. Past schedules indi-
cate a new anti-church drive
soon is on the whipsaw timetable,
to get rid of Archbishop Beran for
all time.
The prelate, whom the Nazis
forced to sweep the streets Of
Dachau determination camp.
where he was wartime prisoner,
is the sole big leader in Czecho-
slovakia in opposition to the Com
munist regime.
His name figured prominently
In testimony at the recent Spy"
trials in connection with charges
the Vatican joined Western diplo-
mats trying to undermine, the
Communist government.
The new anti-Catholic cam
paign in Hungary-with ominous
added threats against the Prot
estant sects there-may well be
a part of a whole Eastern Euro
pean timetable of trying to stamp
out religious groups as the biggest
single remaining nucleus of anti
COMMUNISM 4CO1OUd1lCCs
An American diplomat, who re-
Gently left Prague after five years
there, figures that the revived anti
Catholic drive will come quickly
in Czechoslovakia. He points to
the June 19 anniversary of Beran's
virtual jailing as a starting point.
He points to the long time alter
nation of spy trials and church
trials.
It's church-trial turn on the
schedule and he foresees concen-
trated effort to smash the Roman
Catholic hierarchy which has
stood out against the regime.
WeSternerS have been chased
out of Czechoslovakia and Western
embassies are operating on q
skeleton basis. The Red leaders
Of Czechoslovakia now can turn to
the job of eliminating Beran and
thus make Gottwald's presidency
look even better in the party books
Many Casualties Y
It took several months Of slick,
drastic action after the February,
1948, revolution to put the chubby
ex-carpenter, labor leader and in
ternational Communist head
quarters worker into the drivers
seat. A rigged election, framing
of peoples democracy" con-
Stitution, its adoption by a Com
munist terrorized parliament
brought president Eduard Benes
to the breaking point.
He resigned June 6, 194s, rather
than sign the constitution.
Eight days later, In vaulted
Gothic Ladislav Hall, most an
cient building of ancient Charles
University, the assembly obedi-
emily raised its hands in unani-
nous election of Gottwald to sue
ceed him. Benes went to his
summer home and died three
months later.
Foreign Minister Jan Masaryk
hao preceded him IN death-moSt
people are certain by his own
hand-within three weeks after
the Communist victory.
Two years afterward, the coun-
try seems firmly embedded, q
jewel in the Soviet crown.
There were a lot of casualtie.
along the way. besides Benes anc
Masaryk. These included Commu.
mist big wigs who didn't measure
up-among them Vladimir Clem.
entis, who succeeded Masaryk q,
foreign minister, as well as a 10
Of Communist small fry.
The entire bourgeois" middle
class Is being rubbed out anC
private enterprise has disappeared
Freedom of the press, religion
education, speech. thought, opin.
ion and action as Czechoslavkis
once knew them are gone.
Everything must measure I'D &
the gospels Of Marx, Lenin ant
e.