Russians Granted Use Of Uranium Mines By Czechs

Wanganui Chronicle, 10 June 1948, Page 5

Russians Granted Use Of Uranium Mines By Czechs

N.Z.P.A. Special Correspondent. Reed G p.m. London, June 9 According to the European edition of the New York ‘ Her-ald-Tribune.” which published information disclosed by Mr. Ivo Duchacek, former chairman cf the Czech Foreign Relations Committee, the Czechoslovak Government, under pressure from its Left Wing elements in 1945, signed a secret treaty handing over full control of the Czech uranium mines at Jaehymov, in Bohemia to the Soviet Union.

Ever since then, according tn Mr. Duchacek, the Jaehymov mines, which are the sole source o£ uranium in Europe, have been working for the Russians under conditions ot the strictest secrecy. The Russians removed all Czech officials and workers from the mines and immediately installed their own executives and technicians. They also dismissed all Czech labourers, and marched in a large number ot German war prisoners, who are working the mines under close guard. The Czech Press was forbidden to mention the mines, and when Duchacek’s own newspaper “Obzory," defied the ban the reporter responsible for

! the story was promptly arrested. I Mr. Duchacek said all news of the j secret treaty was kept from him, and he discovered it only by accident not long before the recent Comtnunif.t coup. Immediately the Gottwald Government came to power, he sent his wife out of the country and later escaped himself by travelling on foot through the Bavarian forests. : I The Jaehymov mines, which are j situated near the famous Spa of ; Carlsbad, have been worked for i 600 years, first as silver mines, ■ and later as a source of uranium, it i was with ore from these imines mat 1 the Curies produced their first I radium in 1898.