Czechoslovak Pavilion at World’s Fair Defaced

The first night that the 1940 New York World’s Fair was open to the public, unknown persons defaced the raised-letter inscription on the outside wall of the Czechoslovakian Pavilion, it was learned today.

George J. Janacek, Commissioner General of the pavilion, told the J.T.A. that at about 3 a.m. Sunday, after the fair had closed for the night, the cleaners found that the inscription, reading, “Begun by the of Republic of Czechoslovakia, Maintained by Friends in America,” had been damaged, with most of the letters being torn off the wall.

World’s Fair police were notified and began an investigation, with no immediate results. Small signs were posted under the damaged inscription advising the public that it had been “defaced during the night by unknown persons.” Janacek said it was obvious that the deed had been done by “persons unfriendly to Czechoslovakia.” He said that repair of the damage would cost about $35, but added that “it is not so much the monetary aspect that concerns us as the principle of the thing.”

The Jewish Palestine Pavilion was opened on Saturday, with the exhibits brought up to date to show the advance of the Jewish homeland during the past year and a new exhibit on Palestine architecture added. Admission to all exhibits in the pavilion is free this year. An official opening ceremony will be held at a date not yet fixed.

Governor Lehman, speaking at ceremonies opening the Temple of Religion, declared: “We must protect ourselves from the enemies within by militant love of democracy and an alertness which will sanction no violation of our civil and religious liberties.” He said: “We are deeply grateful that here we still have the blessings of religious and civil liberty; that we can live in a land where men still worship as they please.”