(sanitized)

• Document Type: CREST
• Collection: General CIA Records
• Document Number (FOIA) /ESDN (CREST): CIA-RDP82-00457R002300330002-2
• Release Decision: RIPPUB
• Original Classification: S
• Document Page Count: 3
• Document Creation Date: November 9, 2016
• Document Release Date: December 15, 1998
• Sequence Number: 2
• Publication Date: February 12, 1949
• Content Type: REPORT

CLASS!FICAI ION
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INFORMAT10 - bRT CD NO.
25X1 A9a
COUNTRY Czechoslovakia DATE DISTR. 12 Feb 1949 25X1 A2g
SUBJECT Comments on Gottwald and ? NO. OF PAGES
Other Members of the Gove
PLACE_ NO. OF ENCLS.
DATE OF I SUPPLEMENT TO
25X1 X6 REPORT NO.
Gott
a. Gottwald' s position with respect to Moscow has been getting weaker since
the end of 1947. The February coup was arranged and directed by Rudolf
SlansI r, who of course allotted a distinguishedrole to Gott .i d 4 in
March, however, a conflict developed when the Party was selecting a new
man to succeed Bones as President of. the 'Republic, Gottwald a most
unwilling to be chosen, knowing very well that the importance of the
President is much less than that of the Prime Uinistor. It is said
that he became (and still is).sublect to crying spells and that he is
often Ill and has to be Isolated somoti+es for a period of several days.
On the day of his election to the presidency-his wife passionately in-
sisted on moving to Prague Castle the same day. She has been the object of
criticism by the Czech reople. This "dynastic" wadding failed to strengthen
Cepicka's position. He reached his greatest prominence during the February
coup. Today he oecupiej himself with carry out measures directed against
the Catholic Church and'Archbishop Beran. His forcer political activities
have been for the, most part transferred to Slancity. He has no say whatever
in matters of forei policy.
c. It is to be noted that Gottwh1d, an old member of the'Folitbureau, is not
losing influence very rapidly on the surface. Proof of this is his journey
to the Crimea. There All be further occasions, especially in foreign
politics, when his name will be heard, but there, will always be somebody
at his side to direct his steps, as, for Instance, did Geminder on the
sharp criticism by the wives of the other Communist ministers. Gottwald
has tried bard as President to maint&in his vanishing influence. For
instance, he ordered that he be supplied with an exact program before
every session of the Government and of the Central Action Committee4
This c.ms complied with and his notes were acknowledged, but lately they
have been diaregarded^ '
b. The wedding of Gottwald?s daughter with Minister Alemi Cepicka was per-
formed with great pomp and splendor and thereby caused a mat deal of
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, .. Or INT5. IFFSCIALS ONLY
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N' TIAL 25X1A2g
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a. Nosek's weakness is well known. le is not a naive politician, but he
has many weaknesses, the rrincipal one being that he spent all six years
of his wartime exile in London instead of Moscow. In committee meetings
of Parliament in 1946 and 1947 he spoke warmly of the character of the
people of London and of the London Police, at a time when the Czech Police
uergring criticized. These cords mere noted and have not been forgotten.
By the beginning of 1948 he no longer carried any weight, and it is now
said of him in Soot that he no longer has the power to send anybody to
prison or get anybody out of it. He attends Government sessions, as is
his duty, but does not sneak there except to recommend measures in his
own ministry very briefly.
b. The Ministry of the Interior is actually conducted by a 'roup of persons,
of whom Jindrich Vesely, who is formally subordinate to General Wanda and
to Nosek, has the greatest authority. He In the highest authority in all
matters pertaining to the Ministry of the Interior and is in absolute con-
trol of the Secret Police. During the time of "Spacial Emergency4", 1. e.
after the death of Dro E. Banes, Vesely created a srecial new police Corps
of 1,200 men for the purpose of guarding and also watching the riinisters
and other prominent politicians. After the escape of Dr. Zenki the body
guards of Ministers were changed every few days and the posts guarding
their living quarters every few hours. In the intelligence section of
Vesely's office is a certain T"ajor Bedrich Pokorny. Source,, who know
him personally, describes him as a common assassin who has imprisoned and
frequently depcrWunwantod people. Nosek is frequently informed of im-
portant events (the decision of i4iich theoretically rests with him) only
several days after they have happened,
Dr Jarozr~.x? Iyo,~??'fi n{ stcir ~f
Dr. Dolansly seems to belong to Gottwnld's grout, like Noses. Source has
known him from childhood and went to school w th him. Dolaneky has been
a Communist since 1922 and. spent six years in a concentration carp during the
war. Tie is a serious worker in economic problems and sees Co anism from an
idealistic point of view. Fischl, who was appointed at '~Ianslc?s instiga-
tion) to assist him on 1 January 1948, actually wields the real authority
in the Ministry. DolannRy has been hard put to it to hold his of n, and
lately he has won given support to some of Slanaky's wilder suggestions0
It is possible that in case of a reshuffling of the Government,. Dolansky will
be r placed by Fisch1. Dolansky, who underwent political schooling in Moscow
before the w, r, formally belongs to the inner staff of the Party, but he is by
no means in the innermost circle. He is in poor health and is tired, and source
believes that he would like to relinquish his position if he can do so decently
and quietly.
AnIj
Dr. Vlado Clementis still belonged to Gottwald' s grout' a few months ago, but
since that time he has turned to the Cominformists, leaving ,the so-c=alled right
wing of the Party for good, and is now cultivating Slansky's friendship. He,
of course, was the dominant personality in the Ministry of ForeI'n Affairs even
when he Tw as still Secretary ?of State in the Ministry under Maaaryk. lie is dill
gent and clever and is a good speaker. flovtever, source considers hie demagogic
and completely unscrupulous. lie is enormously ambitious and likes to surround
himself with great luxury.
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25X1A2g
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Duris was more of an anarchist than a Cormsunist before the war. He is described
as having the manners of a Hungarian country gen{.-.lernn. At the elections in
1946 he is credited with gaining much of the farm vote for the Party by promis-a
ina to the small fanners and those without land of their own the land of the big
landowners. He repeated this promise at hundreds of rublic meetings and in
Parliament. He supported the idea of rnivaate landownership (for small farmers)
and even got a paragraph dealing with it included in the constitution. However,
the verdict of the Cominform against Tito and US agricultural policy came as a
great blow to Duris, who became the subject of s".rlilar criticisms from. Moscow.
Dr. Kotatko, a leading figure in. the Ministry, loft the office to become chair-
man of the agricultural cooperatives, the so-called "Koichozy". Dram: went to
Moscow to defend himself, but even after this his position renained shaken. It
is completely up to Slaneky whether and how long Duris will regain in office.
6. Vkin- ;Siv.
Siroky, leader of the Slovak Cormunists, has been drawing closer to Gottmald?s
group since last summer. He is known. to be opposed to terrorism and is con-
sidered a humane and decent person. Whereas in Bohemia and Moravia about 50,000
people lost their jobs as a result of the February coup, few were affected
Slovakia, and even people who were shown to be Lettrich's followers got off with
punitive transfers to other towns. It is considered likely that Smoky, in
spite of his membership in the Cominform,, will p esently be replaced by sow
more radical personality.
7. Zdenk Fierlinot
8.
Immediately after the coup, as soon as Fierlinger had slavishly completed his
mission, his influence began to decline rapidly. Now he has been-deserted by
both Communists and (former) Social Democrats. He is completely without in-
fluence, as he is well aware, and even his former direct connection with Moscow
has been out.
Dr. Tohn, a friend of Fierling", was rromised a higher position by Cepicka
before the cour.. Tie hoped. to become Minister of Foreign Trade or of Industry
but today is still Chairman of Parliament. In October 194 he expressed his
disgust to a friend over the rosition of Parliament, which has become a super-
fluous institution. John appears at ceremonies and is allowed to do such things
as rucking a speech at the grave of Dr. Bones or introducing important bills in
Parliament. He is very ambitious and able, but has no opportunity to prove him:
calf. at present. . Although he had promised his fiends before the coup that he
wild put up all possible resistance, he continually changed his political line
after the end of 1947 and tried to adapt himself to the new course set by the
Comrmanists. Even in Arril. 1948, he was still able to talk of the absolute
necessity of maintaining human and democratic rights, but today he is a willing
and servile tool of the Communist Party. Since he is very clever and elastic,
however, source would not be surprised if he were to intrigue against the regime
at some future date if he thoughtthis would be ad antageous to himself and that
the outcome was assured.
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