SOCIALISTS CHARGED WITH PLOT

Press, Volume LXXXIV, Issue 25427, 25 February 1948, Page 7

SOCIALISTS CHARGED WITH PLOT

The Communist Minister of the Interior (Mr Nosek) later announced the discovery of proof that the National Socialist Party was preparing for armed uprisings and the military occupation of public buildings. Mr Nosek claimed that the party had placed members on the alert for a coup timed for February 21. and that the plans envisaged gaining control of army garrisons and the national security services.

He added that the police had arrested two Czechoslovak army officers and a number of civilians.

The National Socialist Party headquarters denied knowledge of the alleged preparations and suggested that the Communist-controlled police had placed documents in the party’s files when they occupied the headquarters earlier in the day.

The National Socialist Party said that the police had arrested six party executives.

The Catholic People’s Party announced the arrest of its youth leader. The Prague correspondent of the British United Press says that the Ministry of the Interior yesterday issued sub-machine-guns and carbines to the Prague police. The Ministry of the Interior announced yesterday that Czechs would have to obtain special exit permits to travel abroad. These would be granted only for urgent business journeys, or journeys- in the interest of the State.

The Trades Union Federation said yesterday that it would not tolerate failure to down tools in a one-hour strike to-day in support of demands for the enlargement of the nationalisation programme.

Street transport, telephones, telegraphs, and broadcasting will be held up only for a token five minutes. Police and hospital services, gas, electricity and essential work in factories will be exempt from the strike.