WHOLE NATION MOURNS.

Chronicle (Levin), 6 September 1948, Page 5

WHOLE NATION MOURNS.

• Received Suiulav, 7 p.m. LONDON, Sept. 4. The Czech Cabinet has. decided to give Dr. Benes a state funeral from the Puntheon in Prague. State agency -reports from Prague say . he is to be buried near his country home at Sezimovb IJsti. His body was embalined to night for tlie three days' public display before the burial. The body will lie in State. throughout toinorrow..in th.e. .glass hall of I)r. Benes 's vilia at Sezimov., Usti and will be brought into Prague tomorrow night. There will be a week of official niourning. Cabinet has granted his widow a sum equal to a Cabinet Minister 's salarv for life. The police in Wencelas Square tohi the crowds wearing bha-k ariu bandand lapel buttdns beariug Dr. Benes 's photograph: " Keep mo\ing or you will be taken in." The police arrested half a do/.en pedestrians in the Square, including a flower seller olfering red and white carnations — the National Socia! ist Party's traditional colours. The police (lispersed Czech journalists who gathered outside Dr.' Boues's home aiul told them only the official news agency would be permitted to hanille tlie news. Foreign eorrespondents were not afl'ected. Messages of condolence pourec\ m from all over the world for Madaniu Benes, inchiding oue from the King and Queen ot England. Diplomats travelled to Sezimovo T'sti to express their sorrow to JMadame Benes. ( .■ Prague, newspaperes pnldished blackbordered qfficiat biographios and a few of the official condolciiqe telegrains, but there are not any descriptive stories.