FUNERAL OF MR MASARYK

Press, Volume LXXXIV, Issue 25443, 15 March 1948, Page 7

FUNERAL OF MR MASARYK

Burial By fathers Grave MOURNERS THRONG STREETS (Rec. 9 p.m.) LONDON, March 13. Policemen stood 100 yards apart along almost the whole 30-mile route of Mr Jan Masaryk’s funeral from the Pantheon, where a ceremony was held in Prague, to his grave, dug at the right of his father’s in the village of Lany. Church . bells tolled throughout Prague and crowds packed the streets. Some people wept softly, and there was a strange hush as a gun-carriage bore the coffin past the mourners. Lany had an influx of tens of thousands of visitors for the burial ceremony. Nearly every home in the village displayed a black-banded photograph of Mr Masaryk. People standing behind their fences threw flowers at the procession. The service -at the graveside was held at dusk.

The Deputy-Foreign Minister (Mr Clementis) said at the burial service that Mr Masaryk had known how to combine service to his country with service to mankind. “He left us in times not exactly joyful for such heralds of international understanding. He was a born conciliator and a tireless seeker of agreement.” Thirty minutes after the coffin left the Pantheon, marchers were still lined far up the hill waiting to join the procession. The crowd in the streets easily numbered 1,000,000. There were hundreds of wreaths in the Pantheon. A wreath from the President (Dr. Benes) was laid at the catafalque, and the national flag, on which were placed flowers from Mr Masaryk’s sister, Alice, covered the coflin. The hall of the Pantheon was draped in black and hung with flags. Soldiers, war veterans, and members of the Sokol (the Communist-con-trolled gymnastics organisation) stood guard.

Dr. Benes Breaks Down Dr. Benes, who was making his first public appearance since the Government crisis on February 21, maintained his composure till a children’s choir sang the favourite folk song of President Masaryk. Then he broke into ’tears. After the ceremony the Prime Minister (Mr Gottwald) hesitatingly extended his hand, and Dr. Benes took, it in a brief handshake. Dr. Benes then turned to the Speaker of Parliament (Mr Josef David) and gripped his hand firmly. Mr Gottwald, in a personal tribute heside Mr Masaryk’s bier, said: “I can prove it myself that from the first days of the Government crisis Mr Masaryk kept away from those who plotted the crisis. The press of the West began an organised campaign against Mr Masaryk. Whoever knew his character knew how sensitive he " a s toward personal attacks and must understand how difficult this concenr^ a x atta ck on his deepest feelings must have been. These attacks, together with Mr masaryk’s illness, provided the circumstances that drove him to his tragic end.

ri 1 can P rove that Mr Masaryk cmarly and without compromise with the action programme of me new Government and had already hi n J’° -fulfil this programme within » ere influence. I can prove wi+l Ma saryk. who decided to go rrJ? ttle People when he stood on the °f °ur nation’s fate, meant what he said. tak^ e who are staying here have a lesson from your bequest—i)PnLi° ne s h°uld always go with the rvt’ '■ We ’ dear Konza (Mr MasathJl nic ? name >- shall always be with Peon? 5 ° Ple . and So forward with the pie. This is our promise to you.”