Events Follow A Familiar Pattern

Greymouth Evening Star, 24 February 1948, Page 5

Events Follow A Familiar Pattern

(Rec. 2.30 p.m.) PRAGUE, February 23. The Communist Minister of the Interior, Mr Nosek, announced the discovery of proof that the Czech National Socialist Party was preparing armed uprisings and military occupation of public buildings. Mr Nosek claimed the party had “alerted” its members for a putsch timed for February 21 and the plans envisaged gaining control of the Army garrisons and security services. He added that the police had arrested two Czechoslovak Army officers and a number of civilians. National Socialist Party headquarters denied knowledge of the alleged preparations and suggested that the Communist-controlled police had placed alleged incriminating documents in the party s files when they occupied the headquarters earlier today.

President Benes, after conferring for two hours with the Ministers who had resigned, announced that he was taking steps to have all parties seek an agreement in order to renew cooperation of the whole National Front. The Czech Socialist Party headquarters stated that the police arrested six party executives. The Catholic People’s Party announced the arrest of its youth leader. The Czechoslovak parliament postponed its session tomorrow indefinitely. Ministers Thrown Out The Communists in Slovakia threw out the non-Communist ministers in the provincial Cabinet and divided their posts among the Communists’ Ministers. Typesetters on the Slovak Democratic newspaper at Bratislava refused to set articles criticising the Communists, while the Communists elsewhere urged printers not to handle material opposing the Communist or trade union policies. The Czechoslovak Airline pilots were prohibited taking off today following new travel regulations. Premier Confident The Premier, Dr Gottwald, announced that a new Government would be formed in the next few days or even within a few hours. Dr Gottwald added that his and President Benes’s view points “had come

closer” within the past 48 hours. He believed Dr Benes would accept the Ministerial list he would present. The Czech Social Democrat Party announced that it had accepted the Communist invitation to form a new Government, but insisted that the negotiations must respect the principles of parliamentary democracy. The party has also decided to permit members to join the “action committees” throughout the country, which the Communists have sponsored. Students Demonstrate Five thousand students marched to Prague Castle where Dr Benes is living, shouting, “Down with terror. Long live Dr Zennel” (National Socialist Deputy Prime Minister). Telephone and teleprinter communications between Prague and Bratislava have been cut. The Social Democrat Party denied that the Communists had issued it with an ultimatum to join Mr Gottwald’s Cabinet or face the consequences. Order To Civil Servants The trade unions told civil servants to participate in a one-hour strike tomorrow and the Social Democrat Party decided to allow its members to take part. , The nationalised newsprint factories refused to supply the Czech Socialist newspaper with paper. Dr Benes will broadcast to the nation tomorrow.