Two Czech Legation Staff “Shocked”
(New Zealand Press Association)
WELLINGTON, August 21
Two members of the Czech Legation staff said tonight that the Russian invasion of their country was a “tremendous shock.” They found it hard to believe it had happened.
The men, Mr M. Blaha and Mr M. Otta, members of the commercial section, were speaking personally and not with the authority of the Czechoslovak Government. Mr Blaha said he left Czechoslovakia only last Thursday; there was no evidence then of any infiltrators, armed or otherwise. “There was an arms cache discovered near the German; border a few weeks ago, and it was said there were American pistols in it, but the cache was not large,” Mr Blaha said. Neither would say if he was
a member of the Czech Communist Party but both said they supported Mr Dubeck. Border Open
“He is a man who compels you to like him,” Mr Otta said. On the infiltration allegations, Mr Blaha said the borders of Czechoslovakia ■ were open to anyone who i wanted to visit. This had ibeen so for two years. | “It seems to me this could ,be a mistake or and a mis-l i understanding. The Russian j ; people were our closest i I friends,” Mr Blaha said. I
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Bibliographic details
Press, Volume CVIII, Issue 31764, 22 August 1968, Page 1
Word Count
211Two Czech Legation Staff “Shocked” Press, Volume CVIII, Issue 31764, 22 August 1968, Page 1
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