U.S. CAUTIOUS ON SOVIET INVASION

Press, Volume CVIII, Issue 31764, 22 August 1968, Page 15

U.S. CAUTIOUS ON SOVIET INVASION

Both Seem Anxious To Avoid Confrontation (N.Z.P.A.-Reuter—Copyright) WASHINGTON, August 21. President Johnson kept in close touch with Prague developments today, while officials studied diplomatic options available to the United States to meet the menacing Czechoslovak crisis. The White House and the Kremlin both appeared anxious to head off a new East-West confrontation after Russia’s blitz movement into Czechoslovakia. Diplomats predicted that the focus would shift quickly to the United Nations, and that the United States would join—but probably not initiate—a move to censure the Soviet Union and its hard-line Communist allies, Poland, East Germany, Bulgaria and Hungary.

Because of the Vietnam war, America’s diplomatic manoeuvrability was regarded as strictly circumscribed.

Military action by the Western Powers was also considered highly improbable. But diplomats believed the Soviet decision to use force in Eastern Europe for the second time in 12 years would deal a heavy blow to President Johnson’s efforts to ease East-West relations.

Mr Johnson summoned the National Security Council, his top policy-making group, to the White House for an emergency 55-minute meeting immediately after news of the Russian invasion reached Washington late last night He acted shortly after the Soviet Ambassador (Mr Anatoly Dobrynin) handed him a special message from the Kremlin, explaining Russia’s

rationale for the sudden move.

Officials refused to reveal the contents of the Soviet note, but said it was along the lines of a Moscow statement claiming troops were sent in at the request of Czechoslovakian leaders. Debrynin Called On Mr Johnson’s orders, the Secretary of State (Mr Dean Rusk) called Mr Dobrynin to the State Department for a 15-minute talk shortly before midnight. Again, no details were disclosed, but informed sources said Mr Rusk expressed the Administration’s shock and concern.

The quick contact between the two Governments was seen as proof that both wanted to try to control the situation. So far, the United States has maintained a strict “hands off” policy in the mounting crisis between Mos-

cow and Prague, and has even avoided public statements of sympathy for the reformist Czechoslovakians. This attitude has been widely interpreted as tacit American acknowledgement that Czechoslovakia remains part of the post-war Soviet sphere of influence. Missile System It has also been seen as an attempt by Washington to avoid any situation which could spoil new efforts by Mr Johnson to improve relations with Moscow, particularly to negotiate a joint ban on antiballistic missile systems. Mr Johnson regards this as the next major development in arms control. The President was expected to confer with key advisers again this morning, after evaluating latest reports. A spokesman said last night that he had not made use of the WashingtonMoscow “hot line,” installed

five years ago to provide ininstant emergency communication between the two major world centres. There were indications Mr Johnson was postponing plans for a new trip to his Texas ranch. He returned from Texas to the capital only on Monday after an 18-day absence, but had been expected to go back, possibly today.