CZECH PURGE

Press, Volume LXXXV, Issue 25936, 17 October 1949, Page 7

CZECH PURGE

AV ARNING GIVEN OF MORE ARRESTS

“ IMPERIALIST AGENTS AND HOST] LE ELEMENTS ”

<Rec. 11 p.m.) PRAGUE. October 15. The Czech press announced to-day that police round-ups and political purges would continue “until hostile elements and imperialist agents have been liquidated.”

The gaoling of,thousands of people and dismissals from employment were officially described as moves to protect the nation against “agents of foreign Powers.” Western imperialists, and Jugoslavia.

For the first time since the Czech purge began last month, a report was

circulated to-day that the arrests included a member of the committee of the Czech Communist Party. The man said to have been arrested was responsible for guiding much of Czechoslovakia’s land and agricultural reform.

In Paris to-day, the newspaper “Figaro” published a letter said to have been written by workers in the Skoda works at Pilsen, condemning the Communist regime. The letter, which was addressed to French Communists, said that many Skoda workers had been arrested or sent to the

mines as forced labour, for striking against the work and pay systems. A strike was. considered high treason, and was punished as such.

The letter added that there had been wholesale pay reductions of 20 per cent., the introduction of a six-day week, and the suppression of holidays.