Workers May Ignore Smrkovsky’s Appeal

Press, Volume CIX, Issue 31880, 7 January 1969, Page 11

Workers May Ignore Smrkovsky’s Appeal

is ' (N.Z P.A.-Reuter—Copyright) • PRAGUE, January 6. Militant Czechoslovak workers are unlikely to heed last night’s personal appeal from their reformist champion, Mr Josef Smrkovsky, to moderate their campaign to have him elected as head of the new Federal Parliament.

Mr Smrkovsky, Pre- , sident of the National , Assembly and a key supporter of Mr Alexander Dubcek, the progressive chief of the Communist Party, went on television to dissociate himself from the campaign that is now threatening to result in a wave of strikes. But political observers say his appeal 4s unlikely to deter the million workers involved. Mr Smrkovsky, a Czech, said the question of parliamentary leadership was one which did not allow discussion. “If we speak of legality and rights, then for me, too, the decision of the competent authorities is binding,” he declared. Plea For Calm It was, he said, the primary duty of the Czechs to respect all the rights of Slovaks, “Including their personal wishes”—an apparent reference to recent Slovak demands that a Slovak should be given the parliamentary post under the new federal system of equality in key positions. Echoing the party leader-

ship's plea for calm, Mr Smr-1 kovsky said tendencies to resort to force and violence must be avoided.

“I would think it unhappy if the federation were to begin with quarrels and arguments," he said. "Without any will, my name has come into the foreground, especially concerning the function of the Presidium. I did not want to become involved in this.” In his usual frank style, Mr Smrkovsky went on: "I appeal |to all of you, from Left to I Right, to understand that in this divided world we just cannot live without the Soviet ] Union. ,

“I appeal to you urgently ... not to do anything that might constitute a threat. I think especially of the word ‘strike,' which has appeared in a number of resolutions." Czechoslovakia's progressives feel that if Mr Smrkovsky departs under the CzechSlovak federal system introduced on January 1, it would be almost a death-blow for Mr Dubjcek's reforms. • Crucial Week Observers say the coming week will be critical, with Mr Dubcek and other members of the Presidium executive, including the Slovak Communist leader (Mr Gustav Husak) facing up to the workers' reaction to Mr Smrkovsky’s television speech. Amid mounting unrest, the Presidium issued a warning on Saturday that the country faced a crisis on the parliamentary issue. The metal workers’ union, which has 90,000 members, has already reacted sharply to Mr Husak's recent references to "extremist” support for Mr Smrkovsky. and observers say the workers are unlikely to take kindly to the Presidium claim that their campaign has gone too far and is open to extremist influence.

But party resolutions supporting the Presidium's appeal were arriving in Prague from various parts of the country last night. Parliament is expected to meet soon, when the leadership controversy will come to a head. No assembly date has been announced, although plans are under way for the next Central Committee meeting.

A Russian delegation led by the Soviet Communist Party secretary (Mr Konstantine Katushev), is now in Czechoslovakia and is thought to have been pressing for disciplinary action against the progressives at the forthcoming plenary meeting.