Moscow Reaction To Czech Election Awaited

Press, Volume CVIII, Issue 31774, 3 September 1968, Page 15

Moscow Reaction To Czech Election Awaited

(N.Z.P.A.-Reuter—Copyright)

PRAGUE, September 2.

Czechoslovakia waited anxiously today for Moscow reaction to the newly-elected Presidium which contains a majority of progressives supporting Mr Alexander Dubcek and his reformist policies.

The new body announced last night was increased in strength from 11 to 21, but included only one known pro - Moscow “hardliner,” Mr Vasil Bilak, purged last week from the leadership of the Slovak Communist Party.

Observers doubted if this would satisfy the Kremlin, which was reliably reported to have pressed for the inclusion of at least three “hardliners.” The fear now was that the Russian occupiers might lose patience and take over the powers of government themselves. The Communist Party Central Committee ended a twoday session in Prague Castle yesterday by electing 11 progressives to the Presidium. Nine uncommitted members were also named, who can be expected to support conservative policies palatable to Moscow.

President Ludvik Svoboda was named an honorary member of the new Presidium with full rights, and two of Mr Dubcek’s staunchest supporters, the Prime Minister (Mr Oldrich Cernik) and the National Assembly chairman (Mr Joseph Smrkovsky) were re-elected. Four members of the preinvasion Presidium were dropped from the new list: Messrs Oldrich Svestka, Emil Rigo, Frantisek Kriegel, and Jahomir Koldar. Another of the old Presidium, Mr Fran-

tisek Barbirik, was reduced to an alternative member. Tbe Central Committee also removed Mr Svestka as editor of the party newspaper, “Rude Pravo,” and appointed Mr Jiri Sekera in his place.

A communique said the fourteenth party congress, which was due to open on September 9, had been postponed, but it gave no new date. The Czechoslovak Journal-

ists’ Union announced today it was accepting censorship of press, radio and television for three months only. The union’s central committee presidium, in an announcement broadcast by Czechoslovak Radio, said all newspapers in Prague would be considered illegal until the Government announced the resumption of proper communications and Soviet troops left press buildings. It said two senior officials of the Czechoslovak news agency, Ceteka, had been expelled from the Journalists’ Union for collaboration.