Ext 6116/46(S) 'Secret Weekly Political Intelligence Summaries, nos 356-416, August 1946-November 1947' [‎256r] (521/978)

5
Minister, had decided to appoint a Com
mission to examine further procedure on
that score, finally, M. Masaryk, Czech
Foreign Minister, welcoming the scheme
in a United Nations’ anniversary speech,
said that it must include “ the whole of
^rope ’ since Czechoslovakia could not
tolerate any plan which might divide
Europe into “ Left and Right.” His faith
lay rather in the efficacy of the United
Nations’ Organisation. No other Party
spokesman appears to have made any
declaration on the offer.
The Czechoslovak attitude, pre
determined by the conflict of political and
historico-cultural considerations, reflects
the wariness with which the Government
approaches relations between the Big
Powers. The safest course is thus the
attempt to appease two conflicting
ideologies by proving that a synthesis is
possible and by persuading the West, par
ticularly America, that Czechoslovakia is
still accessible to Western influences. It is
this “ two-way ” outlook which prompted
Dr. Zenkl, despite his protestation of
loyalty to Russia, to condemn rumours of
“mysterious pressure” and political con
ditions, which, the Communists allege,
attach to the loan still being sought from
America. These rumours Dr. Zenkl
stigmatised as “ insults to our American
friends.” The Czechs would naturally
prefer to maintain their independence—a
wish that presupposes, however, a sympa
thetic attitude on the part of the Western
Powers. Not even the Czech Communists
are anxious wholly to submerge their
country’s national sovereignty in the
interests of regional Communism; at a
recent press interview the Communist
Premier, M. Gottwald, stated that Czecho
slovakia did not feel the need of either a
£ ‘ European ” or a “ Slavonic federation
which would limit their independence.
With the exception of certain minor
details and the crucial question of Czech-
Slovak relations, the Constituent Sub-
Committee have approved the draft of the
new Constitution. The promulgation of
the Constitution, it may be recalled, is the
principal task of the present administra
tion. M. Gottwald, when asked his
opinion on whether they could complete
their programme at an early date, replied
that he saw no reason why the several
Parties, each with its own programme but
adhering to the principle of National
Front co-operation, should not contest
new elections next May. He stressed the
necessity for continuing the work of the
present Government—meaning that the
newly elected Government must draft a
second economic Plan. Commenting on
current conditions the Premier pointed
out that Slovakia must be cleansed of all
Fascist elements: subversive remnants,
however, he said, were not confined to
Slovakia; they existed also in the Czech
Lands where the ‘ ‘ grande bourgeoisie ’ ’
and landed magnates, whose power had
been broken by nationalisation and Land
Reform, still tried to sabotage the
Government. This last criticism as in
tended as a defence of the Communist
Minister of Agriculture, D. Duris, who,
since the beginning of the year, has been
subjected to continuous Opposition attacks
on the count of unconstitutional procedure
—his position is regarded as critical now
that his claim for special powers has been
rejected by the Parliamentary Legal Com
mittee. The Communist-controlled Minis
try of Interior is also under bombard
ment by Popular and Czech-Socialist
Deputies for the illegal provision of arms
to the civil population, principally the
Works Militias.
Cultural Agreements have been signed
with Norway and Bulgaria. Czecho
slovakia has entered into a Trade Agree
ment with South Africa.
(See also under “ Hungary ” and
“Poland.”)
POLAND
M. Cyrankiewicz, the Prime Minister,
opened the session of the Polish Sejm with
a detailed statement of Government policy,
and claimed success in improving inter
national relations, in steadying the
internal situation, and in the great work
of developing the Regained Territories.
After the usual tribute to the Soviet
Ally M. Cyrankiewicz first stressed the
importance of the Polish-Czech Pact and
the impending economic agreement derived
from it, and of similar agreements with
Yugoslavia, as also in matters of trade,
with Bulgaria and Sweden. Like Czecho
slovakia Poland expects soon to resume
normal diplomatic relations with Hungary.
With regard to the Western Powders, the
Prime Minister expressed! his Govern
ment’s satisfaction at the new under
standing reached with Great Britain.
This, he hoped, would lead to a solution of
the fundamental problems of Germany and
the Polish Western Frontier, as well as of
questions relating to the demobilisation of
the Polish Forces, the restoration of Polish
property, the repatriation of Germans to
the British Zone of Germany and of Polish
emigrants in Westphalia back to the home
land. No efforts would be spared, he