860F.00B/12–2247: Telegram
The Chargé in Czechoslovakia (Bruins) to the Secretary of State
1670. In view recent Communist setbacks in Zecho and failure of Communists in France, Italy and other western European countries to make gains, Embassy has been on alert for signs indicating possible answer to question of whether Zecho Communists are likely resort to extra-legal methods of gaining majority in elections scheduled next May.
While it may be presumed that agenda of Communist parties in various countries contain plans for such action, it appears at present Czech Communists will make every effort in drive beginning next January to obtain their aims within constitutional framework.1 While there is no conclusive answer to question at present, several highly placed contacts of Embassy point out three reasons against extralegal action in Czecho: (1) non-revolutionary character of Czech people who would probably react to such methods in manner unfavorable to Communists; (2) Czecho is only Soviet periphery country with highly developed industry. Soviet Union greatly needs Czech products. Unorthodox Communist election methods would impair Czech ability to get necessary raw materials from west; (3) President Beneš is regarded as “ace in hole” who is highly popular and respected and who could be counted upon in emergency to use his position strongly to resist extra-legal action. While President has suffered physical setback, he is far from being incapacitated and his intellectual vigor is unimpaired.
- In telegram 1677, December 23, from Praha, not
printed, Chargé Bruins reported that the previous day he had raised
with Foreign Minister Masaryk the question of the possibility of the
Czechoslovak Communists resorting to extra-legal methods in the
forthcoming elections. Bruins’ telegram reported Masaryk’s comments
as follows:
“He [Masaryk] said Gottwald had never misled him in matter of this nature and had replied Communists would seek to obtain 51 percent majority by constitutional methods, that great amount of good-will had been created in world press by fairness of last Czechoslovak elections and Communists would be unwise to adopt irregular methods. Consequently Masaryk believes this will be strategy at least in early part of election campaign and is unlikely to be altered unless orders to contrary from Moscow are received.” (860F.00B/12–2347)
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