Greymouth Evening Star. FRIDAY, MARCH 12, 1948. It Could Happen Anywhere

Greymouth Evening Star, 12 March 1948, Page 4

Greymouth Evening Star. FRIDAY, MARCH 12, 1948. It Could Happen Anywhere

‘T’IIE death in dramatic circumstances ot Jan Masaryk, son of the first Czech President and virtual founder of lhe republic, Thomas Masaryk, epitomises lhe tragedy of Czechoslovakia. It appears to have been both a gesture of despair and a warning to the free, democratic peoples of the world. It is undeniable that democracy in Czechoslovakia, which had long been fighting a discouraged rearguard action against the new totalitarianism, appeared to cave in tamely when Communist pressure was intensified. The final surrender of freedom was not accompanied by even a show of resistance. For that reason, the dramatic nature of .Masaryk's death may be taken as of great significance. The lesson of the Czech crisis is this. The world has been able to see for the first time the technique of militant Communism in successful action, unsupported by Russian arms and with only remote control from Moscow. What happened in Czechoslovakia could happen in any.country whore Communists or their iellowtravcllers are permitted to obtain key positions. The Communisation of Poland. Bulgaria, Rumania, Hungary and Jugoslavia all had confusing features. In those countries there were Russian troops. There were none in Czechoslovakia. On the other hand, the psychological effect of. being an island surrounded by Communist-domin-ated countries must have been great. It is obvious, however, that Czechoslovakia had a better chance of survival than any of the other countries. But it went under with an ease that has dismayed the democratic world. Far more important than any threat of armed intervention or economic blackmail was, no doubt, the hopeless sense of impotence which must have depressed the liberal leaders in fighting the Communist internal movement. This movement had shown itself prepared ruthlessly to ruin the country in order to obtain its objective.

The immense power of Communism, once it can gain sufficient power to make its weight felt, is clearly illustrated. The lesson'of the Czech tragedy is that we all pay 100 much attention to Russia and far too little to our own houses. The process of Communisation is a comparatively simple one. Czechoslovakia has proved that. AVhat happened there could happen in any democratic country—and it could happen much sooner than most people want to believe. The common trend is to talk of the possibility of war with Russia. But why should Russia want war? According to Communist calculations, she has only to wait and let her Trojan house accomplish for her the objective of world domination. Once the Communists in any country achieve a certain strength—provided it is properly distributed, it need not he a preponderant strength—then grave danger arises. In Slovakia, for instance, lhe Communists were outvoted by two to one at the election, but this fact did not prevent them from seizing control of the jn-ovin-cial and local government by the customary processes of gaoling their opponents and ousting tliem from office. In this way the brief dawn has ended lor rhe Czech people. For all practical purposes the chains of one alien conqueror have been exchanged for another’s. The ominous parallel with. 1938-39 is now complete. Events have proved the rightness ot a declaration of a great English statesman, made in a. speech now many months old, that in Russia’s case the expansion sought —of power and Communist doctrine—knows no I'imiis. One success loads io another. A totalitarian State cannot retrace its steps. It mny halt tor a while il. onstaeles lie in the‘way, but sooner or later it must try to go on. The question, is: where and when will it end. 1 And the danger is that all the remaining democracies I Imre are declared and undeclared traitors who arc prepared Io sell their countries into foreign bondage.