Russian Troops To Stay A Long Time

Press, Volume CVIII, Issue 31780, 10 September 1968, Page 17

Russian Troops To Stay A Long Time

(N.Z.P.A.-Reuter—Copyright) MOSCOW, September 9. The Soviet Union gave clear notice yesterday that its troops could remain in Czechoslovakia for a long time.

An authoritative commentary on the front page of the Communist Party newspaper, “Pravda,” reiterated that troops would be withdrawn once Czechoslovakia had been “normalised.” But it added unambiguously and for the first time that Czechoslovak leaders still had “enormous work” to do to achieve normalisation. It described as merely “the first steps” towards normalisation the measures Prague leaders had taken so far at Moscow’s insistence measures that include the reimposition of press censorship, the dropping of key liberals from party and Government posts and the outlawing of opposition political groups. Not Agreeing “Pravda” made it clear that it did not agree with the view of Czechoslovak leaders who said in a Communist Party communique yesterday that all obstacles to a return to normality had been removed and who urged new talks with the Kremlin on a speedy troop withdrawal. In a reference to the Soviet troops’ continued control over certain aspects of Czechoslovak life, the Prague communique said: “Conditions must be created so that the affairs of our country can be fully administered by our own organs.” “Pravda,” seemingly in direct rebuttal, wrote, “the troops of the allied countries are not interfering in the internal affairs of the Czechoslovak Socialist Republic and will be withdrawn as the situation in the C.S.R. is normalised. “But let there be no doubt that allied troops will fulfil their noble international mission to the end.” “Enormous Work” “Pravda” continued: “The first steps in the direction of normalisation have been taken. “At the same time, one must not fail to see that the party and State agencies of the C.S.R. still have enormous work to do for the genuine normalisation of the situation.” The Soviet definition of normalisation, given again by “Pravda” today is “primarily the exposure and suppression of counter-revolution, a resolute blow against hostile forces which are even now trying to operate.” “Pravda” and other Soviet newspapers have emphasised

that normalisation, in Soviet eyes, meant far more than removing anti-Soviet posters from the walls and restoring the normal functioning of the economy. But the definition, while tough, is still regarded by observers as so vague that it will be difficult to say when, in fact, normalisation has been effected. Example Given As an exampe of what was still regarded as objectionable, “Pravda” cited an unnamed Czechoslovak newspaper that called the years of Czechoslovak Communist rule “20 years of bureaucratic deformation.” This, “Pravda” said, was “the language In which the Right-wing forces spoke.” It was also seen as an indication that the Kremlin wanted restriction of domestic press criticism as well as as on attacks against the Soviet Union and other Warsaw Pact countries. “Pravda” also justified the occupation of Czechoslovakia on the grounds that agreements with Czechoslovak leaders at Cierna and Tissou and Bratislava had obliged the other Communist countries to defend socialism. It said that until recently, the Prague leaders had been “paralysed” and had allowed counter-revolution to develop apace. “It is precisely for this reason that their true friends and allies were compelled to come to the aid of Czechoslovak Communists and all working people." "Pravda” said.

In Prague, Czechoslovakia's new censor took the unusual step of going on television to tell the nation’s press they should help get the country back to normal again—to meet the Kremlin’s conditions before occupation troops will be withdrawn. “I am the first censor who ever showed his office in public,” Mr Josef Vohnout said in a television interview. He said his office would be based on law and would observe, control and guide the activities of the press, television and radio. “But there will be guidelines from the Government on how to solve various ques tions,” he said. Independent Attitude But Prague newspapers are still showing an independent attitude in spite of the censor The question is—will Moscow tolerate it? The trade union newspaper, “Prace,” in an editorial today, told its readers that the conditions its editors were working under had basically changed. “We can say that between ourselves and you, there is now the censor. The censoi is why we are silent . . . why we change your letters and words sometimes so that they are acceptable.” In accepting the conditions of censorship it had lost the right to express the views which the editors held. “We have lost the right to report all true information and also to defend ourselves against unjust attacks," it said