DR. BENES RESIGNS

Chronicle (Levin), 8 June 1948, Page 5

DR. BENES RESIGNS

(N.Z.P.A.-

-Reuter,

Who Will Sign New Soviet Model Constitution

Copyright)

Received Tuesday, 9.55 a.m. PRAGUE, June 7. The Czechoslovakian President, Dr. Edouard Benes, resigned this morning and the Czech Cabinet accepted his resignation at an extraordinary meeting this afternoon. The resignation was contained in a letter delivered to the Czech Cabinet 24 hours before the deadline set for the signing of the new Soviet model constitution, establishins: a so-called "People's Democratic Republic" in Czech oslovakia. As Dr. Benes did not sign the new constitution before he resigned, Cabinet can now promulgate itself as the temporary bearer of Presidential powers or can wait until the new President is appointed. Parliament will be called together on Thursday and will be asked to set the date for the new Presidential election as next Monday. Political eircles in Prague regard it as nearly certain that the Communist Prime Minister, M. Clement Gottwald, will be the next President. Dr. Benes, in a letter to M. Gottwald and Cabinet, said: "I informed vou on May 4 of my definite intention to resign and we discussed my decision in connection with the problems of the political situation. I also told you that my physicians had recommended me to resign in view of my health. I beg you to ask the National Assembly to kindly take cognisance of my resignation from the jesponsible oiiiee with which it hohoured me by its unanimous vote of June 19, 1946. I thank it for its confidence. I thank the people for their confidence and lovc, which have been of immense support to me, and which I endeavoured not to fail."