The Press MONDAY, AUGUST 26, 1968. Little Room To Move In Moscow Talks

Press, Volume CVIII, Issue 31767, 26 August 1968, Page 12

The Press MONDAY, AUGUST 26, 1968. Little Room To Move In Moscow Talks

Several rays of hope have lightened the Czechoslovak scene: the reported reappearance of Mr Dubcek, the prolonged talks in Moscow, a hint that East European leaders may meet to discuss the crisis, and the continued failure of the Russians in Prague to find anyone to collaborate in a puppet government. The Moscow leaders, not the Czechoslovak negotiators, are probably having the greater difficulty in finding an acceptable formula for the withdrawal of the Russian occupation forces. On the darker side of the picture, the occupation force continues to grow and liberals among the Czechoslovak Communists are reported to have been arrested. The length of the talks in Moscow suggests that the Russians no longer have much hope of replacing the popular Czechoslovak leadership. The increasing number of Russian troops in Czechoslovakia suggests that any withdrawal will be slow. Having committed themselves wholeheartedly against the Russian invasion, the Czechoslovak leaders will not easily be persuaded to support any face-saving formula suggesting that Russia acted against “ enemies ” of commonism in Czechoslovakia. Nor are they likely to condone the purging of some of their supporters to provide evidence that would justify Russia’s intervention. Neither side has had much room for bargaining. President Svoboda and Mr Dubcek may have to accept at least a temporary reversal of the liberalisation programme in Czechoslovakia while the Russian forces are withdrawn. The Czechoslovak people have shown a quite remarkable discipline. They have clearly shown their abhorrence of the invasion while giving the Russians little provocation and no justification for keeping their forces in the country. "Hie Czechoslovaks may now have to be remarkably patient