English Translation

- 12 - III. Czech Counter-Government Abroad Shortly before March 15, 1939 and immediately afterwards, a number of Czech politicians fled abroad, which had gradually gathered in Paris to form a counter-government.While the Poles called out a real government recognised by the Western powers in Paris, Czechs probably only formed a Czech National Committee (Národní výbor Československý-Comitée national tchecoslovaque) as a result of certain differences of opinion between the leading politicians. Jan Š rá m e k, whose representative in Paris was again Dr.Juraj S la vík. The Committee was composed of the Bureau and four departments: Financial Administration, Information Administration, External Political Administration and Social Administration. The departments were divided according to the type of ministries and their heads were appointed as ministers.The head of the financial administration was the former director of the Brno Arms Works, Dr.Ing. Ed. O u t r a t a, his representative Ing.Wenzel H a v l'í č e k. Details of the imter and occupation within the departments follow in the special part under 8. "France". This department was closely associated with most of the foreign representatives of the protectorate's armaments companies (Škoda, ČKD, Brünner Waffenwerke).The information department was headed by Dr. Hubert R i p k a, whose steli representative Prof. Vlad. K l e c a n d a. for the publication of the various press products in the "Česko- slovenský boj", "Čescoslovenské zprávy" and others. The 'Nouvelles tchecoslovaques', published by K o I á r, were in direct contact with the department. Stefan O s u s k y 's was limited to the diplomatic representation of the interests of the National Committee. It was practically represented by the Czechoslovak delegation in Paris. The social department was led by Dr. Juraj S l a v í k. The special department of the military administration was headed by General Sergej I n g r . In London, under the chairmanship of former Minister Bechyně, a parallel committee was set up with the Paris Committee.