Czech Delegate Protests To United Nations

Greymouth Evening Star, 12 March 1948, Page 5

Czech Delegate Protests To United Nations

(Rec. 12.20 p.m.) NEW YORK, March 11.

Dr Jan Papanek, Czechoslovak representative at the United Nations, announced today that he will file a i'ormad protest with the United Nations against the shelving of his request for a Security Council investigatiorCof the Communist seizure of his Government. * ■ ■

Dr Papanek said he was also ready to occupy a scat for Czechoslovakia in the- “Little Assembly" boycotted by the Soviet when the assembly meets on March 15. if- his action will mot “embarrass” the United Nations.

“Legal Representative”

“T am still the legal representative of the Czechoslovak republic,” he said. "I am acting on the instructions of Mr Jan Masaryk. I don’t see how Mr Lie. the Secretary-General, can regard my demand as the communication of a private person.” As far as is known here, Dr Papanek’s credentials have , not been withdrawn.

Reuter’s Prague correspondent says that the Secretary for State, Mr Clementis, said: “Mr Masaryk had bitter moments when he read and heard how his so-called friends abused him. Treason among officials abroad also affected him.” French Comment

The French Foreign Minister, M. Bidault, said: “Jan Masaryk, faithful to the patriotic traditions of his father, died when freedom died.” M. Bidault added . that events in Eastern Europe had similar characteristics which "do. not please us.” In Washington a State Department spokesman said official reports received there tended lo confirm that Mi - . Masaryk apparently killed himself, because he was forced : nto an untenable position by the Communist regime..

The spokesman added that-the reports desribe the general feeling on the part of the Czechs,' that the Communists were at least indirectly responsible tor Masaryk’s death. There is also a feeling that he will.be regarded as a martyr.