OPINION REPORT ON ATTITUDE OF CZECHS TOWARDS PRESENT REGIME AND FUTURE GOVERNMENT

• Document Type: CREST
• Collection: General CIA Records
• Document Number (FOIA) /ESDN (CREST): CIA-RDP82-00457R006500830008-8
• Release Decision: RIPPUB
• Original Classification: C
• Document Page Count: 3
• Document Creation Date: December 14, 2016
• Document Release Date: September 24, 2001
• Sequence Number: 8
• Publication Date: January 23, 1951
• Content Type: REPORT

Approved EQ af A4.jd 'l bW82-0045
U O ' TI . REPORT
COUNTRY- C,,7,echoq1ovakia
SUBJECT Opi,n1on report on Attitude of Czechs tot?J1I {8
Present Faglne and Future Goverment
PLACE
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DATE OF
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1. 'Then travelling through Czechoslovakia today, one f. indri r any more contrast
ing orinion than rsirht be e.tpe cted. It in necessary to realize i?ahat is ae-
tually happening in Czechoolovakia, not only from the rolit i cal and economic
points of view (rut, andthis is moot important, from the mint of view of the
chance in the soul and opinions of the average Czech citizen. At thin time-
tuo gears after Februaxny 19/+8--if one ?rare able to loos: into the soul of the
Czech citizen, one t roulc7 find only chaos.
2. It is difficult to say of i.fiZt the Czech reople are thinkint; and bat their
opinions are. It must not be forgotten that the average Czech (gent through
t63 very unpleasant ordeal of the oecuriation t?h ch vary strongly undermined
his stability, and that the Czech nation was exhausted after the ter and
needed nuxuinr and a gradual convalescence;. Instead,, it received another
heavy blow. There. really is not a cinni.e satisfied person in all of Czocho--
slovaakia, even If sone individual..--ancl there are very few of thee;?-rni ht
claim this. Aside fron the ?gain and basic reasons of dissatisfaction, lack
of freodor:! and fear, t''er3 are arldit .ona1 reasons such as exhaustion and dis-
arpointrnont. The people at home are worn out, morally exhau;dand licarpointed,
not only by present events but also b7, all. tho~* have had to enciuro during the
yeast years. There Is no need to ertrha^izo that the Czech reople do not tiant
t?nis rolitical situation or its pror!ont ?ovo-?nr;ent. This is a fact beyond
doubt, anc1 there are vea y7' few who ,nuld take exception.
3a That is the 'rich of the Czechs? Do they lonn for a return to the past? The-,,
do not. '-1hy? Can thoy no longer rener!ber their untarn:iched President llasaryk?
The e a-ple of Fast days has renainoci and 1iasaxyylc in alive, perhar;"r r?or3 than
ever before, as a symbol of truth and caonocricy. Jnfortu tel:- there is another
.reminder of the past which the reonle at hone still ret:aln: unem loynent and
economic crisis. They all exr?:3rionced th9. beautiful and pleasant life under
freedon, but there were none uho exploited this basic quality of life for their
om gain to such an extent that although the (maker element l i.ved in freedom,
it ,yas hardly able to surport itnelf. Thi^ shadow over that beaut3:Vul and
great period, this fost:jrinr! sores on the ?nuns; body of the Ter'ublic, is the
cau;.,e for the rrenent ch?^nre in th=e o+i_?lon of th-S poorlo, and this is hor
deeply the root-, of the present situation extend.
4.. In sprite of the 10vc3 and sy pathy for.the ra^t, it Faust be a(lnit ad that al
Vnza,,h it uas a per:lo:? of treat freeclorz and orporturitur, there
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was a lack of perfect huzaaneness. Those powerful and ruthless persona who
exploited all opportunities afforded by this freedom never considered whether
others could live decentl-T. Na one noticed or considered the next fellow no
one understood the weaker, lose energetic person. Of course it is not just,
correct.; or humans for the weaker and less able to suffer because stronger in-
dividuals do not heed even basic human needs. Are not the weaker entitled to
a decent life, even if they lack the strength and ability to fight for it?
Like' any human being, they have other good qualities.
5. This failure in used by the Communists most of all and has been their strongest
propaganda weapon. They utilized it even at the trial of Dr. 111lada fomkova.
This beautiful and glavia example of a heroic wonn, with her firm statement
that she would remain faithful to the bequest and teachings of T.G. Masaryk, made
a great impression upon everyone, even upon the members of the Communist Parlor;
but the organizers of the trial attempted to belittle her by linking her with
persons who reminded the Czechs of the previous ruthlessness of individuals
Therefore, the Ceoche are confused. The road to the old may of
life is empty and, with the exception of a few, no one seeks It. The past In
unconditionally behind the people, and nothing Is left but the great moral and
spiritual bequest of Nasaryk.
6 Today, two years after the February events, the Czechs must ac'cnowrlodge this
reality and face it aeon if they do not like it. It is useless to seek for
or imagine something pleasant that no lon:fir exists, These are times of uar
certainty and evolution.
7. What is the solution? It is to find a way out of this confusion, to state the
basic aims for a now and future life In Czechoslovakia; to find a perspective
which would bring new hope for all, or at least to the majority.. for a better,,
Just, and more - peaceful life. Here lies the problem to. the whole situation in
Czechoslovakia.
8. After the now., free wa of life in Czechos3 ovaida Is determined, "Mere must be in-
cluded some measures which undoubtedly helped the Communists immensely and which
even today they are using fully. It does not appear that the Commvmists In
Czechoslovakia maintain their power only by force, the secant police and the
S!,+P. Apart from those means, theta are other vary effective measures which
help them stay In power. One realizes this only if one lives in Czechoslovakia
and studies the thinking of the people. The most important measures are the
law assuring employment to every citizen and the law providing national insurance.
Source must state that these neasures, at least for the present, help maintain
the Communists in sower more than do strong police action; he is convinced of this
beyond any doubt. He is not of course thinking of the forced labor by those un-
fortumates who are unjustly persecuted by the regime. He has In mind free choice
of employment, and up to now the majority of the people still have the opportunity
to work at jobs they select. It is true that today there are no unemployed or
pirtly unemployed ' in the counts?ya When one talks to the man on the street, one
hears that apart from slavery and force, be fears unemployment rest. To dl.i
the criticism and condemnation of various Communist methods-and source has
heard such criticisms-the Communists, after ineffectively trying an other
means, still succeeed. with this final argument: "Do you want the return of those
tics vit-'n you could be fired at an time? Do you w*nt again to live throe a.
25X1 A the days of unemployment?" the challenge concerning national in-
surance equally effective.
25X1 A 9. these measures help maintain 25X1 X
position o. this terrible regime even though such a large number of Czechs
are knowingly paying 6 .high price for them--their freedom. People are really
afraid of unemployment. It is. a pity that these effective measures were not
at the disposal of democecy long, before February 1948 so that the prevent
rulers in Czechoslovakia might have been prevented from using them in such a
terrible manner to exploit the freedom of the Czech nation. The Czech people
would like to be assured that the longed-for freedom will not bring frith it tires
of economic disturbance and the struggle for a minimum existence because they
are already ver,- exhausted.
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10. r?oncerning the opinion of the ,Czech people on international matters, a much
clearer picture exists. Everyone is well aware of the ruthless exploitation
of Czechoslovakia br the -SSR and the use of Czech ind'tntry only for war
prerarationn by the leaders in the Kremlin. On this subject the opinions
are uniform. There is no uncertainty but rather a firm although ne7ative
stand on the part of the whole nation which Is united against the. terrible
ands, for Czechoslovakia, destructive "friendship" of the USSR. The hatred
of this eastern neighbor and its leaders is alike among all classes of the
population, as it was of the Germans during the war. here to not the
slightest doubt about this. It is difficult to find in Czechoslovakia a
true surporter and enthusiast of the USSR and its horrible leaders, in spite
of the great effort and servility sho,,m by the Prague regime to the USM,
These signs of imrpotence of the Czech Communists are repugnant to every Czech.
11. The stand on rear is a very negative one and the feelings in Czechoslovakia
are against war. It Is not possible to conceive of anyone fighting for Soviet
Interests; Ilor is there any desire to go
to tsar for any other reason. The army is certainly unreliable for war purposes.
There is a great desire, hot-rover, to be rid of the Soviet influence. There is
also great symrathy among all classes for a unification of Europe, The Idea
of a United States of Europe, without any borders and obstacles between nations,
dominates everyone a s thinking and is spreading like wildfire, . This unification
is really the wish of all, and today the Czechs are more Europe- mli d.than ever
before. In this respect, source believes that the foreign radio could' well
serve to spread information on the future disposition of affairs in :-'urope and.'
on the inclusion of Czechoslovakia, which is so well situated in Europe, into
the new framework. State borders in Europe rust be abolished. Everyone is
aware of this need, and perhaps never before have the Czechs craved freedom
of movement so much.
l It is also necessary to discuss the results achieved by the present foreign
br?adc.astn in Czechoal,vaI iEr. is it right to tell the Czechs about their
lack of freedom, about the injustice in the country, about all they, must cuffar,,
when they themselves live under these conditions? Everyone in Czechoslovalcja en-
counters this lack of freedom daily, he finds obstacles consfiantjv In his may.
and his ner-xeo are weakened by fear. i3 -4 rigihi: .t-ox- such a person, when he
turns on his radio in the evening after a full day of troubles, moral lashing.,
meetings and reeducation, to hear from abroad what he hinnolf has faced all
day? Does he have to relive this terrible and dark present which he, the
ordinary Czech worker, knows much better than all the people abroad? Does
he cant to know how many Communists there are in the country when he himself
is a member of the party which he hates and when at present he Is surrounded
by Communist schooling, fulfi7.lmet:t of plans, competition to outdo the others,
and pretense at being an ardent Communist?
13,, ?dili these reports on the present terrible situation In Czechoslovakia take him
away from all these erz?ors and disturbances? "Till his suffer ngs be lessened
by being repeatedly told what he has to go through every day? Unfortunately all
this is well known to the average person. '.ghat can give him strength and from
where should he acquire hope for a better future?
14. One leaves Czechoslovakia with nixed feelings. 'lher a is Czechoslovakia going
and what do the r+eople expect of the future? Every Czech is tired of politics,
political maneuvering, and mutual attacks. Daily he observes nothing but attacks,
criticism and swearing. Ile would like to know that there Is a new, ere in the
offing, a period of decency, without hatred, a period of true freedom and humani.
Important to the man on the street is security in his job and thus no worry abnur,
71nemp],oyment, The Czech citizen craves peace; he aunts to be rid not only of
all terror and lack of freedom but of all political quarreling. He wants a job
so that he can earn a decent living, for himself and his family. The people are
looking forward to a united, free Europe without {'rontlers, without enemies, ar
without hatred,
15. Source believes that these are the wishes of the majority of the people, after
all their disappointments resulting frog political quarrels. In spite of all
the prerert horror, hatred and injustice, a new life is being born from the
sufferings of the past years,. The Czechs should learn from their past and in-
clude in the new life all that is beautiful and valuable which gave then strength
during the difficult days;. they must avoid all those mistakes that caused the
pr tentfuttuation. fla ryk's "ChriL
lies today and will apply
rit
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