Czech request for extradition

REDS CASH IN ON EICHMANN CASE
THE Czech Communist Government has taken advantage of the confused situation which has resulted in the Argentine from the Eichmann case to demand the extradition of a leading member of the Slovak emigre community there, Dr. Jan Durcansky, for alleged genocide during the last war.
The request for extradition was made by the Czech legation in Buenos Aires, and the Communists evidently hope that the Argentine authorities will be more sensitive to such requests following the smuggling of F.ichmann out of the country by Israeli agents apparently because the Israeli Government felt that a request • for extradition would fail.
CHARGE
Dr. Durcansky has been taken into custody by the Argentinian police and the Czech request for extradition is now being considered by the courts. The Communist charge against him is based on the role he played during the suppression of the Communist partisan uprising in 1944 which coincided with a Red Army offensive in the Banska Bystrica district. where Dr. Durcansky was an official of Mgr. Tiso's Government.
A deputation of Slovak emigres has called on Cardinal Caggiano, Archbishop of Buenos Aires, to ask him to intervene for Dr. Durcansky's release. The deputation pointed out that throughout his life Dr. Durcansky had been an active Catholic. whose work for the Church in Slovakia included founding the Catholic high school union and editing several Cathloic periodicals.
With regard to the suppression of the Communist uprising in Banska Bystrica. the deputation claims that Dr. Durcansky had no executive powers, since the district was a rear operational area of the German armed forces. The German commander, General Hotia, had already been condemned to death by a Communist "people's court" for his part in this and hanged, even though it was the Comuunist partisans who were responsible for the bloodbath among the people of Banska Bystrica.
Cardinal Caggiano promised the deputation that he would make representations to the Argentine authorities for Dr. Durcansky's release. Dr. Durcansky, incidentally, is a naturalised Argentinian citizen.
STATUE OF VEIN% JOHN
Over 300 secondary school boys and girls watched Bishop Murphy of Shrewsbury unveil on Sunday the first statue to be erected in this country of the Venerable John de la Mennais. who died 100 years ago and is famous as founder of the teaching orders of Brothers of Christian Instruction and Daughters of Providence.
The statue is in the grounds of St. Edward's College, Market Drayton. Salop. Venerable John was co-founder of St. Mary's Training College for men, now at Strawberry Hill, Middlesex.
Hospital to move ?
The Sisters of Charity of St. Vincent de Paul, who run the Ma rillac Hospital at Warley, Essex, have asked the War Office if they can bid for the officers' mess building at the now disused Warley Barracks. If they are able to obtain the old officers' mess they will use it, with extensions, for a hospital and close and sell the Marillac, the condition of which is deteriorating. The Marillac, a hospital for the chronic sick which was a TB hospifal until three years ago, has been run by the Sisters since 1920.