Mystery Man Out

So continuous and adept has been the publicity of Czechoslovakia's two great men that few foreigners realize there is a third. Everyone has heard just praise of President Thomas Garrigue Masaryk. Everyone is conscious of Foreign Minister Dr. Eduard Benes. But only the most alert can name the "Mystery Man" who has been Prime Minister of Czechoslovakia during the past six years. Beholding him one first notes his extraordinary pallor, then the round bald head, large mouth, short wide nose, piercing eyes, and dark overhanging brows. Such is Antonin Svehla.

Last week tall, patriarchal President Masaryk received from Dr. Svehla his resignation as Prime Minister. For a whole year the pallid statesman has been trying to arrest the course of a malignant disease at various European spas. In the case of the Mystery Man, "ill health" is no mere excuse, but the true and tragic reason for a great statesman's retirement. "

I shall not appoint your successor," said President Masaryk to Dr. Svehla, "perhaps you may yet recover your health."

Thereupon the President summoned De fense (War) Minister Frantisek Udrzal, and said to him:

"I entrust you with the Prime Ministry."

Thus by a finely drawn and probably unique distinction the highest executive office in Czechoslovakia is held in trust for a sick man.

Reason: while Masaryk and Benes were working for Czechoslovak independence in Allied countries, during the War, Svehla remained in what now is Czechoslovakia but then was Austria, superintending from within the struggle for independence which Masaryk and Benes carried on from without. Such a man deserves the highest, most exceptional honor -- which he received last week. Always close-mouthed and secretive, Dr. Svehla probably was glad that the world press almost totally ignored his passing, last week,