REGIME CONDEMNED

Otago Daily Times, Issue 26707, 28 February 1948, Page 7

REGIME CONDEMNED

THREE-POWER DECLARATION

CRISIS DELIBERATELY INSTIGATED N.Z.P.A.—Copyright Rec. 8 p.m. LONDON. Feb. 26.. Mr Herbert Morrison, speaking in his constituency to-day, said that all lovers of freedom were depressed about events in Czechoslovakia. They were so sadly like thos of. Munich days, so horribly similar to the Hitler technique. _ . . “The developments are an effort to destroy the liberty of a nation from within by men who owe loyalty, not to their own country, but to a foreign Power.” . Britain, America and France in a joint declaration to-day condemned as *• disguised ■ dictatorship ” the_ Communist regime established in Czechoslovakia.

The declaration stated: “ The Governments of the United States,

**a--ce and Britain have atten-

tively followed the course of events winch have just taken place „at Czechoslovakia, and which place in jeopardy the very existence or the principles of liberty to whic all democratic nations are attached. <• They note that by means of a crisis artificially and deliberately ipstigated, the use of certain methods al ready tested in other places has permitted the suspension of the free exercise of' parliamentary institubons and the establishment of a disgune dictatorship of a single -party’ the cloak of a Government of national union They can but condemn the development and consequences which can only be disastrous for the Czecho Slovak people, who had proved once more in the midst of the sufferings of the Second World War their attachment to the cause of liberty. Tht Washington correspondent of the United Press says the statement was issued on United States initiative. In spite of the doc * ment’s strong terms, there is no indication that it will be followed by a diplomatic break by the United States. There may be financial repercussions, and exports to Czechoslovakia may be reduced and credit cut. .

. Commerce Department officials said, to-day that Czechoslovakia would be rated as far as exports were concerned like other Russian satellites. me officials pointed put that American and Russian trade was not cut off. as the Commerce Department considers a complete rupture of trade relations with Communist-dominated nations would deprive the United States of scarce materials. ’ n h The joint declaration by the British, American and French Governments shows that they have no illusions about the Communist conspiracy which has overwhelmed Czechoslovakia says the Daily Telegraph in a leader. It is right that the horror and sorrow at this degradation of a proud and free country should find verbal expression, but it would be even better if the three Governments followed up their condemnation y action which will prevent a spread of the Communist offensive. “If Czechoslovakia’s fate does not teach us that we-are in the presence of an appalling menace to a free way of life, nothing will do so,” the paper adds. The Times in a leader says there is little point in arguing about Russia’s connection with events in Czechoslovakia. It is sufficient to say with certainty that they could not have taken place unless the Russians hnH wished them to take place, and the Communist coup could not have succeeded without the near presence 0f Ear U nir an a P °Briiish Foreign Office spokesman said Britain would have to reconsider recognition of the Czechoslovakian Government, because it had hpen set up undemocratically. ■ The spokesman added that there had been no sign of normal parliamentary procedS! in the establishment ot the new Government, which was Communist dominated, although the Communis Party represented a very small "‘K Klltke had come Ministry of Justice had represented a brake on the Communist control of the nolice in Czechoslovakia so long as Ft reached in non-Commumsl h3 The argument used in connection with Communist dictatorships m Eastern Europe—that these countries never had anything but a dictatorship —could not be applied in Czechoslovakia’s case.