BENES RESIGNS ON EVE OF BIRTH OF NEW “DEMOCRACY”

Greymouth Evening Star, 8 June 1948, Page 5

BENES RESIGNS ON EVE OF BIRTH OF NEW “DEMOCRACY”

(Recd. 0.55 a.m.) PRAGUE, June 7. The Czechoslovakian President, Dr Benes, resigned this morning and the Czech Cabinet accepted his resignation at an extraordinary meeting this afternoon. The resignation was contained in a letter delivered to the Czech Cabinet 24 hours before the deadline set for the signing of the new Soviet model constitution, establishing a socalled “People’s Democratic Republic” in Czechoslovakia. As Dr Benes did not sign-the new constitution before he resigned, the Cabinet can now promulgate itself as the temporary bearer of the Presidential powers, or can wait until a new President is appointed. Parliament will be called together on Thursday and will be asked to set the date for the new presidential election as next Monday. Political circles in Prague regard it as near a certainty that the Communist Premier, Mr Gottwald, will be the next President.

Dr Benes, in a letter to the Gottwald Cabinet, said: “I informed you bn May 4 of my definite intention to resign and we discussed my decision in connection with problems of the political situation. I also told you that'my physicians had recommended me to resign in view of my health. I beg you to ask the National Assembly kindly to take cognisance of my resignation from the responsible office with which it honoured me by unanimous vote on June 19, 1946. I thank it for its confidence. I thank the people for their confidence and love which have been of immense support to me and which I endeavoured not to fail.” Reference to Freedom

Dr Benes said he hoped the republic “may be spared all catastrophies and that all will live and work in tolerance, love, and forgiveness. Let them allow freedom to others and enjoy .freedom' themselves.” He'concluded that he believed in the genius of the Czech people and in a great future for the republic. Mr. Gottwald, in a statement, expressed the Government’s “profound regret.” He said he had for a long time tried to persuade Dr Benes, but the President had remained firm. He thanked Dr Benes for his great services to the republic. Dr Benes, though leaving the Presidency, remained forever in the history of the Czech people’s struggle for freedom, independence, and for “a progressive and socially just state.” Mr Gottwald added: “Dr Benes realised that a reborn Czechoslovakia would emerge from the war that would create firm guarantees that Munich would nevei’ occur again. The first such guarantee was the close alliance with Russia; the second, a popular democratic order, which would remove the traitorous classes and agrarian capitalist bourgeoisie

from power. Dr Benes, in the spirit of these principles, carried on after his famous return to the country, when he himself inaugurated the idea of our new republic being a proSocialist republic. In the historic February of this year he remained faithful to the people and the heritage of our struggle, when he signed the new composition of the Government which was to secure the further peaceful development of the State.” Opposed to Communists The Associated Press correspondent says it is known that Dr Benes frowned on the “people’s democracy” constitution, with which he disagreed, and on the Communist Government single-ticket elections. His retirement has removed Czechoslovakia’s last strong link with the West.

It is officially announced that Dr Benes will be given the Presidential country home at Lany as a tribute to his work. Flis Presidential salary will continue throughout his life.