860F.00/11–2047: Telegram
The Ambassador in Czechoslovakia (Steinhardt) to the Secretary of State
1548. Government announced Tuesday night1 agreement by all Slovak political parties and National Front in Praha to following board of commissioners for Slovakia as settling governmental crisis there.
[Page 245]President Husak Communist; Vice President Lt. Colonel Polak Democrat; Interior Ferjenčik non-party; Finance Josko Democrat; Education Novomesky Communist; Justice Dr. Andrej Buza officially non-party but generally believed to be Social Democrat; Information Lukačovic Democrat; Industry Dr. Solteš Communist; Agriculture Styk Democrat; Transport Bezek Communist; Technical Matters Stefanik Demo; Posts Blaho Freedom Party; Social Welfare Pull Communist; Health Bečko Social Democrat; Food Kvetko Democrat.
Officially new board consists of six Democrats, one Freedom Party, one Social Democrat, two non-party and five Communists. Actually based [apparent garble] political convictions of individuals selected for posts board consists of nine non-Communists, five Communists and Ferjenčik who regards himself as “neutral”.
There little doubt that solution of crisis in Slovakia represents a serious setback for Communists who had confidently expected to take over government in Slovakia. They failed completely in their principal endeavor to seat representatives of Trade Unions and Partisans. They also failed to obtain a majority of board and in effect made little gain of any consequence. They also failed to take over posts of Justice and Agriculture which they particularly desired. With Finance, Justice, Information, Agriculture and Food held by non-Communists, it doubtful that Communists can shake hold of Democrats on Slovak Government by legal means. It remains to be seen what form Communist reaction will take to setback.
Outcome of crisis in Slovakia coupled with dismissal of Fierlinger as chairman of combined Czech and Slovak Social Democrat Party will soon oblige Communists to make a basic policy decision as to whether they should continue their efforts to take over government by a semblance of legal means or whether they should resort to means employed in other countries now under Soviet domination.2
- November 18.↩
- Telegram 1535, November 17, from Praha, not printed, reported that
on the previous day, the Congress of the Czechoslovak Social
Democratic Party, voting by secret ballot for the first time in its
history, had removed Zdenék Fierlinger as Chairman and replaced him
with Bohumil Lausman. Steinhardt’s analysis of this election was as
follows:
“Lausman should not be regarded as a representative of right-wing of party. On other hand, he is no Fierlinger. In spite of his radical tendencies and probability that he will have to cater somewhat to working classes he is by no means a Moscow stooge. Having moved considerably to right in order to unseat Fierlinger he will probably now seek to avoid being labeled as a rightist by making some gesture to leftist elements in party. On other hand, it is of prime importance to bear in mind that Communists can no longer rely upon a slavish acceptance by Social Democratic Party of any and every step they desire to take. To this extent balance of power which Social Democratic Party obtained as a result of last election has been reestablished. In consequence Communists will be obliged to find some other means of maintaining their control of government other than certainty that Fierlinger could be counted upon to deliver Social Democrat’s support on any issue deemed sufficiently important by Communists.” (860F.00/11–1747)
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