MASARYK'S TALKS WITH STALIN
Herben, Ivan
How Czechoslovakia Was Forced Out of the Marshall Plan: MASARYK'S TALKS WITH STALIN By Ivan Herben IVAN HERBEN was • politic*! Journalist In Csechoalovakla for 25 years. Ia 1945. after returning...
...The quiet discussion was interrupted by a cable from Moscow signed by Gottwald, Masaryk and Drtina...
...Stalin showed no interest in It, even thdugh Benes sent him a long letter on it through Gottwald...
...After the February coup d'etat, Drtina attempted suicide and has since been in prison irr Prague...
...This is another Munich," repeated the Czechoslovaks after the news became known...
...The idea was to gather, in the meantime, some information as to what other governments friendly to Moscow would do about the Marshall Plan...
...Jan Masaryk, however, surprised the Ministers with some new facts: First, a delegation of the Polish Communist Government, including Prime Minister Cyranklewicz...
...Until February, 1948, neither the Russiansa»nor Fierlinger, nor Gottwald, dared attack Pika puV licly...
...But everybody believed the treaty with France would be the only point under discussion at Moscow...
...Just look how stupidly the American press is writing even today...
...I told him I knew he would rather prefer some glasses of vodka to a bed...
...According to Masaryk's secret report to Benes, Stalin began without introduction and diplomatic niceties...
...The atmosphere in the streets of Prague resembled that of March 15, 1939, when Hitler invaded Czechoslovakia...
...Stalin rose quickly, puffed at his pipe and started pacing the room...
...He was obviously cheered up and, sure enough, vodka had something to do with his gay mood...
...Fierlinger, in turn, promised not lis own government, then exiled in London, although the 3 treaty with Czechoslovakia and various Soviet agreements the Czechoslovak military mission in Moscow, learned about [ders, and communicated what he knew to President Eduard nvolved to a unified, democratic Czechoslovia...
...said Stalin, "that you must reverse your decision for participation in the Paris conference, and you must do It Immediately...
...Pika was willing to cooperate with the Russians, as Czechoslovakia's allies, but at the same time was concerned with protecting his own country's interests...
...But General Heliodor Pika, chief of the Czechoslovak mi the Catlos-Smitke talks with Soviet leaders, and commimicj Benes in London, stressing the threat involved to a unified, diately cabled Fierlinger expressing confidence that the Sov the Slovak quislings...
...After it became obvious that Gottwald would not agree with Benes and that it would be impossible to receive a clear answer from Moscow—which played into the hands of the Czech Communists by answering vaguely—Gottwald suggested sending a special delegation to Moscow, to ask Stalin personally for advice...
...Even a merely formal representation of Czechoslovakia at the Paris conference would be considered, by the Soviet Union as an inimical act...
...We shall Just ask .our Paris Ambassador to participate In the negotiations...
...Benes and the Government were relieved by this suggestion and accepted it...
...I am coming straight from the Kremlin, front Stalin," ho told Maaaryk and Drtina...
...This was one of his favorite themes...
...General Heliodor Pika had gone to Moscow* in the Spring of 1941, when Russia, expecting Hitler to attack, had asked Benes to send a dependable liaison officer...
...To ease the situation, it was decided not to call a cabinet meeting until July 4 to decide whether Czechoslovakia should send its Foreign Minister to Paris or be represented by its Ambassador alone...
...Maaaryk asked the Polish Premier what Poland was going to do...
...But Fierlinger did all he could to please the Communist leaders Zorin and Gottwald by countenancing such infiltration, by betraying secret messages from Benes in London, and by generally working both against Pika and against the Czech government in exile...
...oviet government Anally replied through its ambassador to dev...
...Smitke's purpose w agreement and support of his Slovak Communist followers...
...Our Ambassador could participate in the first talks at Paris and after several days withdraw, explaining that we changed our mind after we saw what conditions there are attached...
...Looking after him, I realized how simply and exactly he expressed the feelings of the whole nation...
...Since Red Army circles admired Pika's military ability, he was well received there...
...Its economic situation is catastrophic...
...Generalissimo," Masaryk replied, "we have to settle this problem with honor...
...The inevitable sentence—death —followed...
...We arrived at Moscow Wednesday...
...was in Prague at the tune...
...When Jan Masaryk alighted from the plane he was pale and tired and reluctant to talk...
...The cable asked the Czechoslovak Government urgently to call a meeting of the Ministers immediately and to revoke the Czechoslovak acceptance of the Marshall Plan...
...JULIUS FIRT...
...Pika's patriotic act, however, earned him the hatred of the Russians and Fierlinger's renewed hostility (it was not the first time Pika had thwarted Fierlinger's pro-Soviet machinations...
...THE BENES MESSAGE AROUSED grave concern in 1 requested Fierlinger's withdrawal from his Moscow post, anc solely of Soviet interests...
...Everything ia settled...
...He ignored a subservient remark by Gottwald and continued loudly...
...Any such move would have been dismissed by independent judges...
...Gottwald, Wishing to appease the public, capitulated and again voted for participation...
...Her ben's on this page, was also a loader of the Bona* National Socialist party, vice, chairman of the Foreign Relatione Committee and chairman of the Budget Committee of the Czechoslovak parliament prior to the 1949 Communist coup...
...If you join the Marshall Plan...
...You must...
...To explain this, I have to say something-about communistic trickery and deceit...
...This is the end of Czechoslovak independence...
...Benes immelfidence that the Soviets would not betray Czechoslovakia to * • * • ) grave concern in Russia...
...Maaaryk informed his colleagues that he had received, the day before...
...Svobodne SIoto...
...Now, however, he said, it was obvious that the aim of the United States was to isolate the U.S.S.R...
...Eventually, Pika, who had been awarded the highest Soviet distinctions, was placed on the Russian blacklist...
...There Is nothing in between...
...While other nations remember gratefully that the "conversations on the Marshall Plan started just two years ago at Paris, Czechoslovakia remembers those days sadly...
...FOREIGN READERS" MAY INQUIRE why the Czechoslovak delegation chose to go to Moscow at all to ask whether to accept prosperity or misery...
...The lines thus drawn, it was inevitable that Pika and Fierlinger become mortal enemies...
...Bodrov, the Soviet charge d'affaires at Prague...
...Negotiations in this matter had started a year before, but after the Communists were expelled from the French Government, the Czechoslovak Communists delayed the treaty under various pretexts...
...The Czechoslovak Government discussed the Marshall Plan, for the first time, on July 1, 1947...
...Smltke -and hia comrades assumed full responsibility for the nefarious scheme to betray Czech democracy...
...But after the fall of the democratic republic, and following Benes's death a short time afterward, it became easy—and necessary—to denounce Pika, who incidentally was then a sick man...
...tiated the details with Catlos, and informed the then CzechoFierlinger, of the scheme...
...Stalin laughed...
...e Lebedev explanation and thus saved the situation for the ay in Moscow as the Czech envoy...
...We have a new protectorate—this time a red one...
...Czechoslovakia has to go either with us or against us...
...In that case the Soviet Union will not consider Itself bound by this treaty—and I need not explain to you what that would mean...
...In his homeland, he now stands accused of premeditated treesson...
...This nawspapar was the organ of the Banes party and lad the opposition to Csoch Communism...
...After the outbreak of Nazi-Soviet hostilities, Zdenek Fierlinger was appointed Czechoslovak ambassador to the U.S.S.R...
...Tho material for this article waa taken from a secret memorandum written by Jan Maaaryk for President Banes, after Maaaryk's return from Moscow...
...Herben left Csechoslovakla on March 4. 1841...
...after returning from a Geriaan concentration camp where ha spent six years, ha became editor-in-chief of the largest Caeca daily...
...Who cares...
...The London Czech government his Moscow post, and Fierlinger was left exposed as a servant ver, feared conflict With the Western Allies over exposure of ie person of General Catlos...
...Silently and dreamily he gave me his hand ind walked to his car...
...who advised President Benes that the talks with Catlos d that his government had nothing to do with the negotia•d by the Slovak Communists...
...It was decided that Czechoslovakia should be represented at Paris by its Ambassador...
...This time, however, it's an Eastern Munich," he added...
...Benes insisted on its conclusion, arguing that such a treaty would help Czechoslovakia, allied with Moscow, to contribute to some rapprochement between East and West...
...Bodrov told Maaaryk three times that the Soviet Union had no objections to Czechoslovakia's participation in the Marshall Plan...
...During a political interview...
...Stalin waa furious and shouted at me why we Joined the Marshall Plan...
...NOBODY SUSPECTED AT THE TIME that the Kremlin had already decided the future of Czechoslovakia...
...Some suspicion was aroused by-the fact that the trip was delayed for a day on the pretext of bad weather, though the sun was shining all over Europe...
...But we agreed we would defend ourselves, whether Stalin and Gottwald liked it or not, and that we would insist on an honorable compromise...
...At the same time, the Communists raised within the Government the question of whether a treaty of mutual aid and alliance should be concluded with France...
...The trial itself Was held secretly...
...It was decided that a special delegation would fly to Moscow on July 8 and that its members should be Gottwald, Masaryk and Drtina...
...I think Stalin didn't even bother to read the letter...
...Lebedev added that his goverhme tlona, but that they had been conducted by the Slovak Co Benes magnanimously accepted the Lebedev explanati Soviets...
...And then: "None of our allies must join the Marshall Plan...
...Five weeks ago he was executed...
...Masaryk added sadly...
...Several minutes later, however, Gottwald entered the hotel from the street...
...Under pressure from Gottwald the cable asked the decision of the Government be unanimous...
...If you don't...
...Gottwald deceived us...
...Second...
...WHAT ABOUT THE TREATY with France?'' I asked Jan Masaryk after I had read this dramatic report written for President Benes...
...He talked to us like a teacher to rebellious pupils," said Masaryk...
...Gottwald, however, insisted he wanted to rest...
...I told you already...
...author of the companion article to Mr...
...I consulted Drtina and my advisers, but in the end we understood there was nothing to do but face Stalin's judgment...
...With this, Stalin closed the interview and let them understand that the session was over...
...They showed great nervousness in doing so, according to Masaryk...
...He returned as a member of a delegation which also included the then Prime Minister Klement Gottwald and Minister of Justice Prokop Drtina, one of the closest collaborators of Benes...
...Only later did he tell me: "I left for Moscow as the Foreign Minister of a sovereign country and I returned as Stalin's lackey...
...July 9. and Gottwald told us he did not feel well and wanted to rest in his room...
...Under the impression of these statements by Masaryk, the Czechoslovak Government decided unanimously to send a delegation to the Paris conference...
...For they proved for the first time to the World and to Czechoslovakia itself that the Soviets did not intend to keep their promise of not interfering in the internal affairs of Czechoslovakia...
...Besides, it Is obvious that the treaty with France was Just a pretext to lure us to Moscow...
...smiling, answered that Poland was prepared to Join the Marshall Plan whether Moscow liked it or not.' "We shall appease Molotov by not sending a special delegation to Paris...
...GENERAL PIKA...
...This is "a new Munich," Jan Masaryk told me at the Prague airport after his return from Moscow on July 12, 1947...
...If Czechoslovakia should keep its decicision...
...My recollection of those events is based on my discussions with Jan Masaryk, then Foreign Minister of Czechoslovakia, and on a secret report he had written for President Benes...
...Russia agreed to the proposal, negotiated the details wit slovak ambassador to Moscow, Zdenek Fierlinger, of the scl to divulge any of this information to his own government, negotiations with Catlos violated a 1943 treaty with Czecho with the Western Allies...
...m THAT NIGHT THEY SAT at the round table in the Kremlin...
...Cyranklewlcs...
...Since Molotov firmly refused to participate in the Plan, Gottwald took the same line at the session of the Government...
...But he wants to tell It to you personally—we have to call on him tonight, eleven o'clock sharp...
...Fierlinger waa permitted to stay in Moscow at the W was undertaken in August, 1944, by two well-known, and ists, General Ferdinand Catlos, commander of the Slovakian of the Communist party of Slovakia...
...said Masaryk with a grin...
...The Gottwald regime thereupon preferred false charges against Pika—including one that Pika had in reality been a Western "spy" during his stay in Moscow from 1041 on—but most of the charges against him were never published...
...The ambitious Fierlinger, on the other hand, offered his services to the cause of communism without regard to his country's interests...
...On Thursday, July 10, the day after the Wednesday session in the Kremlin, there was a session of the parliament at Prague...
...It will mean a break in the Slavic front...
...We are in a delicate situation," he interposed, "and we have to find such a way out as to not to do harm to the sovereignty of our state...
...What it says about the decision of your Government...
...Previously, he said, the U.S.S.R...
...Even Gottwald and the other Communists voted for this decision...
...thought the small Slavonic countries could join the Marshall Plan and that even the Soviet Union might derive some profit from it...
...There is no middle of the road here...
...Why General Pika Was Killed By Julius Firt ASTRANGE MISSION TO MOSCOW was undertaken ii then supposedly deadly antagonists, General Ferdina Army, and Karol Smitke, leader of the Communist p Moscow to offer to betray the government of Josef Tiso, th ruler of Slovakia, on condition that the Russians entrust h coup d'etat under communist auspices...
...The Communists raised the question again land Benes twice invited Gottwald to discuss I it with him...
...On one side were Stalin and Molotov...
...Jan Masaryk...
...I shall consider it a breach of our treaty of alliance...
...AS CHIEF of the Czech military mission, opposed the infiltration of certain communist agitators (Josef Reicin, Yaroslav Prochazka) into Czechoslovak army units in Russia...
...Masaryk tried to say something...
...Stalin's order to shun the Marshall Plan meant the end of Czechoslovak independence...
...told me bitterly after his return from Moscow...
...All of us felt at that time how the Iron Curtain was sliding down around our country...
...Czechoslovakia had been deprived of its own will and became a satellite of the Soviet Union...
...Russia, moreover, feared conflict W her negotiations with the enemy, in the person of Genera] After a full month of silence, the Soviet government flr the Czech government, Alexander Lebedev, who advised Pr had been discontinued...
...on the opposite side Gottwald, Masaryk, Drtina and two high Government officers...
...Soon, Moscow ordered Fierlinger and the Czech Communists to prepare to wreak revenge on Pika and simultaneously eliminate a dangerous witness of their wartime treason and disloyalty...
...July, 1947...
...Sovereignty...
...General Catlos flew to ient of Josef Tiso, the priest whom Hitler had made puppet e Russians entrust him with the leadership of a scheduled Smitke's purpose was to assure the Soviet Union of the Communist followers...
...TWO YEARS AFTER the Kremlin forced Czechoslovakia to refuse to join the Marshall Plan, and eighteen months after the communist coup, Czechoslovakia is an economic colony of the Soviet Union...
...Pika was sent to prison...
...I told you already your answer must be yes or no...
...Gottwald pretended this was a sudden idea of his and argued that Czechoslovakia, as an ally of the Soviet Union, was bound to consult Moscow before concluding such a treaty...
...Nobody even mentioned it...
...About eight o'clock in the evening Jan Masaryk asked Gottwald's personal secretary to look after him and to ask him for dinner, but the secretary returned saying Gottwald still slept soundly...
...MIt was obvious," Masaryk commented, "that Gottwald had drunk to encourage himself...
...WHEN THE MINISTERS MET on July 4, Gottwald tried from the start to reverse the decision of the previous session, but the democratic Ministers insisted it be kept...
...Stalin continued, "the West would regard it as a proof that it had deserted the Slavic bloc...
Vol. 32 • July 1949 • No. 30
