Fewer Leading Czechoslovakia

Press, Volume CIX, Issue 32265, 7 April 1970, Page 15

Fewer Leading Czechoslovakia

(N.Z. Pres* Association—Copt/riffhtt PRAGUE, April 6. Sixty-four of the 150 members of the Czechoslovak Communist Party’s Central Committee have been expelled from the party or have left it in the purge of Dubcek-era liberals, Prague Radio reported last night.

In addition to the 64, there are “serious objections” to continued membership of other central committee members, a radio commentator, Jaroslav Burda, said. The development represented the most drastic action so far in the purge of Communists refusing to welcome the Soviet invasion and to renounce the liberal concepts of the former party leader, Mr Alexander Dubcek. Presumably it meant reduction of the central committee to a tough, pro-Soviet membership of 86, approximately its size at the start of the Dubcek era. Under Mr Dubcek, the central committee grew to nearly 190 members. Liberals were added during the summer and autumn of 1968, specially after the August Soviet invasion blocked plans for a party convention that would have ousted the old guard.

Since Mr Gustav Husak succeeded Mr Dubcek as party chief in April, 1969, the membership has been dropping as a result of expulsions and resighations. At the last central Committee meeting in January, it was announced that there had been resignations, but neither the number leaving nor the total membership figure was given.