DEPARTMENT OF STATE
GIST: Czech.-USSR: Smrkovsky Tells Soviets Czechs "Can Handle" Anti-Socialist Elements; Report on Sejna Case
INR BRIEFING NOTE
TO:
DATE: June 12, 1968
The Director, INR
TIME: AM
COMMENTS CONTAINED IN INR BRIEFING NOTES ARE INITIAL AND TENTATIVE.
SOURCE(S)
Prague 2335
CLASS./CONTROL(S)
IOU
According to CTK, National Assembly Pres. Smrkovsky in speech at a factory in Riga, USSR on June 10 stated that the Soviet people are carefully following the opinions expressed by Czech. party reps. While acknowledging that voices not in favor of socialism are heard in Czechoslovakia, he asked that they not be overestimated and added that "we can handle it."
FBIS 51
Prague CTK in English
In remarks made in Leningrad on June 11, Smrkovsky, who is on a 10 day official visit to the USSR, stated that the USSR respects the principle that the solution of internal Czech. affairs is a matter of the Czech. Comm. Party and the reps. of the Czech people. Smrkovsky added that the process initiated by the Czech. communists must be brought to a successful conclusion and that nothing must be permitted that would endanger the process and it aims.
FBIS 55
Prague Domestic Ser.
A report on the investigation of the case of Gen. Sejna which had been discussed by the government, was issued today.
Major Points:
1. The motive for his flight was to avoid criminal prosecution as well as difficulties in his personal life. Sejna built his position by [redacted] upon his personal contacts with Antonin Novotny.
2. The investigation as to whether any misuse of the army had taken place showed that neither military districts, armies, nor corps had received orders or hints to prepare for an alert. Surmises caused by the experimental mobilization of one unit between 5 and 1 Dec. in Central Bohemia were disproved by the fact that this had been planned in advance.
3. The investigation did not produce any evidence that Sejna's flight was organized from abroad.
INR/Comment
It is interesting that CTK has picked up the Smrkovsky comments in which he reasserted positions stated before that the Czech CP could handle the situation, that the Soviets need not be concerned, and that the Czech CP was determined to proceed with its democratization process. If Moscow disseminates his comments, it will probably stress his references to Czech-Soviet friendship.
The Sejna report is significant in that it makes it clear that there was no
INR OFFICE
BRIEFER
EXTENSION
RSB
K. Yalowitz
4624
---
Confidential
(Classification)
FORM 360978 DocId:33061196 Page 15