DR. BENES RESIGNS

Evening Post, Volume CXXVI, Issue 84, 6 October 1938, Page 9

DR. BENES RESIGNS

CZECH PRESIDENT

PRESSURE BY GERMANY?

FACILITATING POLICY

A BETTER PERIOD AHEAD

{United Press Association—By Electric Telegraph—Copyright.) (Received October 6, 10 a.m.)

PRAGUE, October 5.

President Benes has resigned and the Premier, General Sirovy, has become provisional President pending the summoning of the National Assembly to elect a new President. It is understood that Germany brought pressure to bear on Dr. Benes to resign. Herr Hitler revealed at Nuremberg" that he had personal animus against Dr. Benes, and it is believed that he promised more generous negotiations if the j Czech leader were changed.

Dr. Benes's resignation , was contained in a letter, which stated:—"The eventful three years of my Presidency have culminated in sad events in these last days. They have weighed upon our spirits and hearts but have not broken our faith nor our ideals towards our people, the nation, and the State. They have changed the basis of our existence. Circumstances are so changed that I feel that my remaining in office would constitute an obstacle to the new conditions confronting the State. These chiefly concern the international situation. With a view to the rapid development of collaboration with our neighbours, we have now constituted a new Government of calm, order, economic efforts, and social reconstruction, which is aiming chiefly at internal de*sltelop,ment. I realise that in these conditions it is essential for me to withdraw from office. This does not mean that I will evade my responsibility. I only wish to facilitate the Government's policy externally and internally. I am convinced that a better period is before us—a period of successful labour and prosperity." GENERAL SBFtOVY'S TRIBUTE. General Sirovy, in a broadcast address, paid a tribute to Dr. Benes as a model of endurance and sense of responsibility. He added that the Czechs'

policy was aimed at friendly relations with their neighbours, which was necessary for security. Their internal policy would be based on wide decentralisation of administration, and equality of the three peoples in the State, aimed to satisfy the justified claims of the Slovaks under the Carpathian Russians. "DEMANDS NOT JUST.* In a broadcast Dr. Benes declared that the European system had been weakened to the disadvantage of the Czechs, who*e self-sacrifice had gained the respect of friends and foe. The Munich arrangement demanded from the Cseehs world peace, which was granted. "I don't want to reproach it," he said, "but we feel most keenly that the demands made upon ns were not Jost." He added that so that the life of the State might not be jeopardised he would not remain President. The nation had not shown less heroism than it would have done if it had gone to battle. He appealed for national unity.