GREAT EXPERIMENT

Evening Post, Volume CXL, Issue 103, 29 October 1945, Page 7

GREAT EXPERIMENT

(By Telegraph—Press Association—Copyright.) Eee.jlo,a i m, LONDON, October 28. 'GzeelioH'OvaHa entered into a great experiment in State ownership when President Benes signed four decrees which practically eliminate the system of shareholders, says the Associated Press correspondent in Prague. The Czechs term this reform, which conVerts millions of workers into State employees, "nationalisation," avoiding the label of socialisation. Precisely what will happen to millions of pounds in foreign investments is not clear, but Government spokesmen insist that foreign investors will be treated with the utmost fairness. Heavy industries and large businesses become State property,, while those employing "under 500 workers will remain in private hands. Companies will retain their individual structures; only the stockholders are disappearing. Professions, co-operative concerns, farms, and a large number of shops and factories are not affected.

In a speech to the first meeting of the Provisional National Assembly, M^-Benes foreshadowed a new Constitution, to be worked out by an elected Assembly.' 'The new Constitution must he entirely different from the Constitution after the last war," he said. "This time we have decided to get rid of all Germans and Hungarians, although tljis means great sacrifices for Czechoslovakia. All German and Hungarian property will be confiscated as part of reparations. All people, Czechs and Slovaks, will have equal rights. There will be largescale land reform." Referring to the recent nationalisation of key industries, M. Benes said this socialisation must succeed. Plans would be drafted for a better and more democratic and more modern army, based on the lessons of the war.

CLEAN-UP IN AUSTRIA

Outlining Czechoslovakia's foreign policy, he said the nation would support with all its strength the United Nations, which was the foundation of the future for the people. He expected the settlement of a small but rightful claim for frontier rectification, and reparations for war damage.

M. Benes thanked Britain, Russia, America, and France for all their help during the war. "We wish to live and work in peace with all our neighbours " for a better and healthier future," he said. ,

M. Benes declared that his country was an ally of the Soviet Union, and would remain faithful to her. She was also a friend of the western Allies, and would do all she could to keep that friendship. As a small country she would attach herself to the country offering her most security.

TREMENDOUS TASKS.

Regarding Germans in Czechoslovakia, M. Benes said, amid cheers, that a cpmmon life with them was impossible. They would have to be expelled, but humanely, and in complete with the Allies. Regarding he said they should be exchanged for Slovaks now in Hungary.

The meeting of the Provisional Assembly, he said, marked the transition from rule' by Presidential decrees to the rule of Parliament and the creation of public opinion ready for early elections. President Benes said that Czechoslovakia was faced with tremendous tasks. A thoroughgoing programme of land reform had to be undertaken. Currency, too, had to be reformed, but most important of all was the nationalisation of the key industries, the banks, and the insurance companies. "I make no secret," he said, "that we have set out on the road which is to lead ultimately to the socialisation of modern society." Czechoslovakia was a poor country, but standards of living would have to be lowered for the time being, and workers would have to be prepared to shoulder extremely heavy burdens. He asked everybody to cpoperate, for the welfare of the Republic was the extreme law for all citizens.