EN
The worsening health of Tomas G. Masaryk made the question of his successor closely linked with the appointment of a new head of the country's diplomacy, since the President in case of his abdication designated Benes as his successor. Based on unpublished sources of Czech and Austrian origin, memoirs and professional literature the author analyzes in his study the background of the appointment of a successor to Benes between 1934 and 1936. Much attention is paid to the implementation of foreign policy by Milan Hodza, as it was at that time that the key negotiations concerning the appointment of a new head of the Foreign Office were taking place. The strongest 'Czechoslovak' Agrarian Party, seeking redress for its failure at the recent Presidential election, wished to have in that position its own candidate and refused to accept Kamil Krofta, suggested by Benes. Hodza's poor success and some of his wrongdoings soon caused his recall and helped Benes to put through Krofta's candidacy. Thus, the President could continue significantly influencing the formulation of Czechoslovak foreign policy.