Czechoslovaks Believed In For Hard Time In Moscow

Press, Volume CVIII, Issue 31802, 5 October 1968, Page 13

Czechoslovaks Believed In For Hard Time In Moscow

(N.Z. P.A. -Reuter—Copyright)

MOSCOW, October 4.

Czechoslovak and Soviet leaders were having fresh talks in Moscow today which could lead to tough new Russian demands for stern measures against what the Kremlin calls “anti-Socialist forces” in Prague.

Discussions began yesterday within an hour of the arrival of Mr Alexander Dubcek, the Czechoslovak Communist Party chief, to a welcoming bear hug and kisses from Mr Leonid Brezhnev, the Soviet Party’s General Secretary.

With Mr Dubcek were the Prime Minister, Mr Oldrich Cemik, and the Slovak party chief, Mr Gustav Husak. Mr Dubcek told Communist reporters at the airport he would stay “as long as necessary” and indications were that he and his colleagues had a hard time ahead of them.

Even as they were being greeted at the airport, the Soviet Government newspaper, “Izvestia,” complained that the process of normalisation in Czechoslovakia, occupied by Soviet troops last August 20, was going “too slowly.” In spite of the hugs and kisses for the Prague leaders from Mr Brezhnev, the Prime Minister, Mr Alexei Kosygin, and President Nikolai Podgomy, there were signs of Soviet coolness. The Kremlin chiefs did not leave the airport terminal building to meet the Czechoslovak’s plane. Soviet information media appeared to be reacting cautiously to the visit “Izvestia”

reported the arrival in a laconic four paragraphs and Moscow television news showed no film of the arrival. An announcer simply read the brief report from the official news agency, Tass.

i There was no official stateI ment on the opening of s the talks but Czechoslovak - sources said they lasted about 1 three hours. Nothing was - known of what was discussed. Observers said the low-key

coverage of the visit so far would indicate that the Soviet leaders preferred to wait to see which way the talks went before being seen to attach great importance to them. Mr Brezhnev and his colleagues were thought to be pressing for pledges from Mr Dubcek on a further purge of his country's press, radio and television. They were also believed to want unequivocal public statements from the Prague leaders that a “counterrevolution” was underway in their country before Soviet and other Warsaw Pact troops moved in.