Ignored Empty Seat

Northern Advocate, 11 March 1948, Page 5

Ignored Empty Seat

The Czech Pi'emier (Gottwald) spoke in Parliament for nearly an hour describing the new Communist programme without mentioning M. Masaryk, whose empty seat was two places away from his.

Later, Gottwald, in a letter lo M. Masaryk’s sister, Aliqe, said her brother had created a new foreign policy guaranteeing a free and tranquil course of the people’s development.

It is generally assumed that the Communist- Vladimir dementis, deputyForeign Minister, will succeed M. Masaryk, whose death had repercussions throughout Europe. President Auriol of France sent Dr Benes a message lamenting the loss of a “noble personality and an illustrious name.”

Mr Attlee and Mr Ernest Bevin sent to M. Masaryk’s sister, Miss Alice, in Prague, and Mrs Olga Revillied, in the United States, messages expressing deep distress at the end which had overtaken their brother.

The acting-Consul General for Czechoslovakia in Sydney, Karol Tokoly, has announced his resignation.

“I do not have to emphasise that the death of M. Jan Masaryk was a great shock to me,” he said.

“I call the suicide of M. Masaryk a dastardly Communist murder. “To be quite honest, M. Masaryk’s retention of the post of Foreign Minister was the only reason why I have not resigned earlier. “I regarded M. Masaryk and Dr Benes as the greatest patriots we have had since the death of Tomas Masaryk, President of the Republic and father oi Jan.”

Dr Emil Walter. Czechoslovak Minister to Oslo, has resigned.