Plan Marshalla w czechosłowackiej prasie (czerwiec-sierpień 1947)

Abstract

Immediately after George Marshall’s declaration to provide assistance to Europe in the process of its reconstruction (on June 5, 1947), the Czechoslovakian press tried to avoid taking a definite stand in the matter. However, some hope was transparent in the publications of „moderate” parties (Svobodné Slovo, Lidová Demokracie, Čas, Vývoj) that Prague would use assistance of the USA. On the other hand, Rudé Právo, the Czechoslovak Communist Party journal, following the Soviet press, was very suspicious towards the American proposal. And yet, when on June 22, 1947 the Soviet government expressed its willingness to participate in the discussion on Marshall’s plan, the communist press stopped criticism on the subject. In spite of the fact that Moscow finally took a negative stand, the Czechoslovakian government decided to participate in the programme of the European reconstruction on July 4. Forced by the Soviets, it changed its decision on July 10. After July 10, press notes in Rudé Právo with reference to Marshall’s plan imitated those from the Soviet press. Moderate parties’ journals in their attempts to keep the ties with the west, expressed sorrow because of the division of Europe, however, not intending to irritate Russians, they tried to convince its readership that the taken decision was right.