SECURITY COUNCIL HEARS CHARGE

Ashburton Guardian, Volume 68, Issue 139, 24 March 1948, Page 5

SECURITY COUNCIL HEARS CHARGE

“RUSSIA ENGINEERED COMMUNIST

COUP”

(N.Z.P.A. — Copyright). NEW YORK, March 22.

Mr Jan Papanek, the former Czechoslovak delegate to the United Nations, told the Security Council to-day that the Soviet had engineered the recent Communist coup in Czechoslovakia. Mr Papanek was permitted to speak in the Council over a bitter objection by the Soviet and the Ukraine.

He traced relations between Czechoslovakia and the Soviet since the end of the war, saying that Russia had exerted great pressure on his country and had compelled it to make economic sacrifices and enter commitments which were virtually impossible to keep.

“In the Czechoslovak elections of May, 1946, the Soviet began moving troops across the border two days before the vote,” vote,” he said. “This movement was halted only after the President (Dr. Benes) and the late Foreign Minister (Mr Jan Masaryk) protested in the strongest terms. Similar tactics were used in the coup last month.”

Mr Papanek said that direct pressure from Mr Stalin, himself had caused Czechoslovakia to reverse its decision to participate in the Marshall Plan. Once again the Soviet’s political interests had come before Czechoslovakia’s economic needs.

He added that although the Soviet had promised not to interfere in Czechoslovakia’s internal affairs, the Communists had attempted a coup in November, but had failed. The Communists had then begun to prepare for another attempt by packing police posts with party members. They had forced high officials to demonstrate and march under the Soviet flag. Later they had seized control of the press and radio. Non-Communist officials had been silenced and replaced wherever possible. <

“The coup had to take place, because it was clear that the Communists could not win the elections due next May aiid would ground throughout Central and Europe,” said Mr Papanek. “The seizure of power on February 22 was plotted by Klement Gottwald, Zdenek Fierlinger, Vaclav Kopecky, and Ludvik Svoboda, all of whom were in Russia during the war and were trained by Spviet Communists.” Mr Papanek called on the Security Council to invite Dr. Benes himself to the United Nations to “attest the fact that he was forced to accept the Gottwald dictatorship because he could not allow the terrible bloodshed which would otherwise have resulted.” Mr Papanek added: “I reject any suggestion that Dr. Benes is a free man. Were he free he would have resigned.” Mr Papanek said that the Czech coup had given an impetus to Communist forces throughout the world, but particularly in Europe. “This' can lead only to violence and conflict. It is more than an internal affair. Terror has already been unleashed in full fury in Czechoslovakia, and it will be greater in the West European countries because it will be impossible for truly democratic people to become accustomed to slavery.” Mr Papanek said that Soviet agents had been among the armed militia in the streets of Prague at the time of the coup. “Witnesses to these facte are now in Germany or London. They have cabled their willingness to testify before the Council.” • Britain's Attitude Sir .Alexander Cadogan (Britain), referring to Soviet expansion in Europe, said: “There are limits beyond which this tide must not advance. It must be dammed back. Almost everyone in the world must hope fervently that this can be done peacefully, but there is an undeniable risk that that hope may not be fulfilled. “In judging thie case we must bo very careful ‘that we are not too easily fooled.” Sir Alexander Cadogan added that the council could not expect absolute proof of Soviet interference in Czechoslovakia; but what Russia had done in other countries must be taken as a background. Communist intrigue and penetration, plainly -supported from abroad, was always at work underground.

tion like the Czechs would give up their democratic rights unless some threat of overwhelming foree had been brought against them?” Sir Alexander Cadogan declared that in Czechoslovakia, as in Rumania, Bulgaria, Albania, Hungary, and Poland, “in breach of solemn international pledges at Yalta,” all parties but the Communists had been gradually or suddenly wiped out.

Communist Technique

“The latest coup in Czechoslovakia was handled according to the typical Communist technique. It is a matter of public knowledge that Communist parties take their orders from Moscow. Bland and bare denials are not in this case very convincing. We cannot be blind to what has been happening under our eyes during the last few years. Country after country on the confines of the Soviet has succumbed to the rule of a ruthless Communist minority. “It is all so regular and uniform that one cannot but trace it to the same source. Of course, it might be said that all these events were the outcome of spontaneous movements in the countries in question, whose inhabitants became progressively convinced of the blessings of living under a totalitarian regime administered by a ruthless minority.

“Unfortunately, these upheavals gen erally, seemed to coincide with the visit to the country concerned of a high Soviet functionary from Moscow. This coincidence of itself must arouse our suspicions.’* Mr Vassily Taransenko (Ukraine) said that American intervention 111 other countries was becoming more and more scandalous, whereas facts supporting the alleged Soviet intervention were absolutely non-existent.

Striving for Domination

He alleged that the Western Powers, and chiefly the United' States, were striving fervently to dominate Greece, Italy, all of Latin America, and other countries. “All these crocodile tears over Czechoslovakia are aimed merely at diverting public attention from those ’interventions.” The debate will be resumed to-mor-row.

Dr. Vladimir Houdek, who was recently appointed to replace Mr Papanek a*3' Czech delegate, said that Czechoslovakia would not participate in the debate. He added: “The Security Council is violating the United Nations Charter by intervening in Czechoslovak affairs. Mr Papanek’s charges are false. He was spurred into giving cheap lies by instigators of a new war.”

“We .know of preparations being made to help the Communists seize power in Italy. The Italian Govern ment has seized arms being imported from Yugoslavia to the Italian Communist Party in the last few weeks Can it be believed that a gallant na-