We should realize that right after the February 1948 one of the priorities of the governing party was to take control of culture. Original syndicates, in which creative intelligence was associated, were subsequently changed into Unions. One of the most important Unions was the Association of Czechoslovakian Writers.
Journey to the famous Congress
After 1956 there was an apparent differentiation among writes. This was based not only on creative orientation of writers but also on their political and ideological opinions. By the formation of the young generation at the beginning of 60´s the differentiation increased. Conflicts had exceeded the generation’s frame; they became more complicated due to personal relationships and due to attempts of some groups of making changes of conditions in the Association and in its press releases. Nevertheless, the majority of writers agreed on evaluation of recent condition of culture and its needs as follows: there is not enough space for independent writing and we meet with many obstacles when we try to increase it. They understood they heef to take a stand on the situation. At the same time the process got into the state which required forming of a positive program of independent literature. The effort made in this direction by the Association’s authorities was met with an opposition of politicians. Although politicians wished to keep positive relationship with writers, conflicts between both of them were stronger. The political administration tried to stop and reverse political changes. Writers who wanted to continue with changes were in majority.
Open conflict
In the year 1967 the big attention of national and foreign public was raised over the IV Congress of the Union of Czechoslovakian Writers. It took place in Národní dům on Náměstí Míru in Prague-Vinohrady from 27 th till 29 th of July. The Congress proved to be an important turning point on the path to the democracy of then society, to the Prague Spring as to say.
Even before the very start of the Congress, at the time when Congress’ papers were prepared, there were some conflicts between the ideological fraction of the ÚV KSČ Committee and the representatives of the Union. During the Congress these problems ended up in an open conflict between leaders of the Communistic Party and communist writers. The conflict was caused by the attitude and proceedings of the Communistic delegation as well as by contributions to the discussion criticizing, among others, the cultural politic of the Party.
The Party leadership tried a well-tried method – to divide writers, isolated the most actice critics and to gain approval of Slovakian writers and those who showed a “constructive” approached and tried to reach an agreement. They also tried to win at least a formal agreement or neutrality from other creative Unions. This was possible. The Congress of Journalists agreed with the measures that the Party adopted against writers. The Congress of Composers didn’t mention the event and among writers themselves were many of those who wanted to settle the conflict as they were worried about consequences.
In 1967 the Party leadership not only politically and socially persecuted few writers but it also made the Union’s weekly newspaper over to the Ministry of Culture’s authority. This step brought writers closer to each other and united them. At first the Minister of Culture was against the transfer eventually he however agreed and already in the same year he suggested changes. The Congress and Party measures taken had significant political consequences:
1. The Congress met with a good response especially among intellectuals who sympatised with writers.
2. Party measures contributed to political diferentiaition of the Communist Party. Inside of the ÚV KSČ (The Central Committee of the Czechoslovakian Communist Party) appeared doubts from certain individuals such as Vodsloň and Slavík about the justifiability of the measure taken. Even stronger were fears from a possible anti-intellectuals campaigns that was in some cases already initiated by politicians of lower ranks. With the exception of two articles, the regional party press didn’t acknowledge what happened. Majority of communist artists however showed their disapproval.
3. The Ministry of Culture became isolated because it could carry its program only with the participation of artists and most of them refused to do that.
4. As the Party leadersip was afraid of further conflicts they overcame their disagreements with film makers and composers and their Congress resolution was allowed to have such formulations that would be otherwise unacceptable.
The Congress of Writers was the last part of a process that has been going on since 1965 and which (similarly as it had happened before) lead to the loss of confidence in the Party, its politics and leadership. This was also confirmed by the report of the Ministry of Culture that informed about the results of interviews with 200 artists in the time after the September 1967. Their mistrust was deep as was their fear of return of the dogmatists’ practices. They expressed their disagreement with the party politics. The Communist leadership became isolated in artistic circles. This isolation was becoming deeper as the leadership didn’t have, apart from power and economic pressure, any other effective means for carrying of their intentions an enforcement of its influence
