Arriving here for his first visit to the United States, Dr. Eduard Benes, former president of Czechoslovakia, expressed the opinion this morning that the Czech Government would “proceed carefully” in its anti-Semitic legislation and “there will be no exaggeration.”
Dr. Benes, at a press conference aboard the United States liner Washington, was asked by a Jewish Telegraphic Agency reporter how far he thought the Praha Government would go in its anti-Jewish program.
“The new Czech Government is now in a position in which it must be careful,” he declared, “and I think it will proceed carefully and exaggerate nothing. I have not any information about the details, but I think there will be no exaggeration in one sense or another.”
Asked further whether he meant that there would be modified anti-Semitism and what form it might take, he said that “the question is too actual and I don’t wish to make any comment on it.” Queried as to his personal opinion on anti-Semitic developments in his country, Dr. Benes said: “I am democratic and I never was an anti-Semite.” He repeated that “I am convinced there will be no exaggeration.”
To a question put on whether he thought Germany intended to make a drive to the East through Czechoslovakia, Dr. Benes replied: “Not through Czechoslovakia.” Asked about the future of his country, the former President declared: “I am absolutely quiet about the future. From the national point of view, the country is tolerant and politically educated and I am convinced that everything will be consolidated and national development will continue from the intellectual, economic and political points of view.”
Throughout the conference Dr. Benes was guarded in his replies to questions. He declined to answer a question about the Munich pact. He denied a rumor that he intended to apply for United States citizenship, stating that “I feel free to return to Czechoslovakia,” without saying whether he intended to do so.
War, he believes, is not inevitable “and can always be avoided,” depending on “the leading people of Europe,” but the future “is very difficult to foresee.” Many questions remain to be settled, he said, and “you must always take into consideration different events.” Asked whether he thought a united stand by the democracies would prevent war, he replied: “Of course.”
In a prepared statement given to reporters before the interview, Dr. Benes expressed gratitude to those “who moved the United States to support us as fully as they did when the political and cultural life of our nation came to be determined” and to President Nicholas Murray Butler of Columbia University and others who started “the American relief for Czechoslovak refugees.”
Expressing admiration for the growth of freedom and democracy in the United States, he said that he hoped “to see something new here.” He will lecture for three months as a visiting professor at Chicago University on the problems of democracy, and also at other universities, after which he will go to England and perhaps return to the United States later.
Dr. Benes was welcomed by Mayor LaGuardia and a distinguished citizens committee at a reception at City Hall this morning. He will remain in New York until next Wednesday, during which time he will address several dinners and other functions.
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