TRIBUTES TO JAN MASARYK No Eye Dry At Memorial Service

Northern Advocate, 12 March 1948, Page 5

TRIBUTES TO JAN MASARYK No Eye Dry At Memorial Service

PRAGUE, Thu. (12.30 p.m.).—The Czech Foreign Office staff at Czernin Palace attended a memorial ceremony today in honour of M. Masaryk, reports Reuters Prague correspondent. The Communist Secretary of State (M. dementis) said: “M. Masaryk had bitter moments when he read and heard how his so-called friends abused him. “Treason among officials abroad also affected him.”

No eye was dry as M. Masaryk’*. chef de cabinet (M. Cerny) praised the late Minister. Parliament, with a show of hands, gave Premier Gottwald a unanimoa. vote of confidence.

In Washington today a State Department spokesman said official reports received there tended to confirm that M. Masaryk apparently killed himself because he was forced into an untenable position by the Communist regime.

Deputies numbered 233 of a normal membership of 300. The chairman (M. Josef David) called for a vote for the Government and every deputy raised his hand. The French Foreign Minister (M. Bidault), in a tribute to M. Masaryk. said: “Jan Masaryk, faithful to the patriotic traditions of his father, died when freedom died.”

The spokesman added that reports

.■'■escribe a general feeling on the partof Czechs that Communists, at least indirectly, were responsible for M. Masaryk’s death.

There also is a feeling that he will be regarded as a martyr. The Swiss radio reported that seven Swiss universities had refused an invitation to join the sixth centenary celebrations of Charles University, in Prague, in April. The refusal was “in the light of recent events at Charles University,” where the rector and some of the staff and students were dismissed in the Communist purge.

The French National Assembly, during a foreign affairs debate, expressed “fraternal greetings to Czechoslovak democrats who are forced into silence and deprived of their essential liberties.”

M. Bidault said events in Eastern Europe had similar characteristics, which “don’t please us.” All deputies except the Communists approved the Government’s foreign policy.

It is reported from Copenhagen that the universities of Denmark, Sweden and Norway have also declined invitations to take part in the festivities of Charles University.’