860F.00/5–2746: Telegram

The Ambassador in Czechoslovakia ( Steinhardt ) to the Secretary of State

secret

893. The election yesterday was held without incidents or disorder of any kind throughout the country. Whatever the influences may have been that prevailed upon the voters to cast their ballots as they did, all experienced observers are agreed that the vote recorded was the expression of the will of the people in a democratic manner.41

According to practically complete returns the Communist strength in Bohemia and Moravia including the rural areas was considerably greater than anticipated. While the exact division of seats may vary by one or two deputies for each party, dependent upon the final count, the Communists appear to have elected 93 deputies in Bohemia and Moravia and 21 in Slovakia or a total of 114. The National Socialists appear to have elected 55 deputies in Bohemia and Moravia, The Peoples Party 48 in Bohemia and Moravia, the Social Democrats 36 in Bohemia and Moravia, the Slovak Democrats 42, the Slovak Freedom Party 3 and the Slovak Labor Party 2.

Thus the Communist Party failed to achieve its objective of a majority in the new assembly in spite of the unexpectedly large vote the Party received. Even with the support of the Social Democrats and the two Slovak Labor deputies, they will hold the barest majority of seats, which could be constantly disturbed by absence, death or defection on the part of individual Social Democratic deputies who will hold the balance of power.

Since the Communist Party has polled the largest vote the Prime Ministership will probably be offered to Gottwald. There is some doubt as to his willingness to accept the responsibility, particularly as he would be at all times dependent on the Social Democrats. On the other hand, as the Social Democrats hold the balance of power, Fierlinger’s continuance in office is by no means out of the question. Perhaps the most interesting, while at the same time the most important [Page 200] result of the election, will be the struggle for control of the Social Democratic Party, in which there is a strong difference of opinion between the left wing and the right wing.

There is litle doubt that the Government of the national front in which all of the parties are represented will continue, and while there will be changes in personalities and perhaps some shifting about in the assignment of the Ministries, there is little probability of any material change in the character of the Government or its policies. As the present Provisional Government has had pronounced leftist tendencies with the most important posts held by the Communists, the result of the election will not essentially alter the character of the Government.

Steinhardt
  1. Ambassador Steinhardt submitted a more detailed analysis of the elections in despatch 936, May 29, 1946. He reported in part as follows: “The election was held in an atmosphere of order and relative calm. The voting was for parties and not for personalities. While the superior organization of the Communist Party through its control of the Ministry of the Interior may have gained a substantial number of votes for that party, there have been no aspersions of unfairness and it cannot be said that the rather strong Communist trend is attributable to intimidation by the Communists or its control of the election machinery. Leading persons are convinced that it was a secret and fair ballot, having been controlled at the polling places by representatives of all the leading parties.” (860F.00/5–2946)