THE CZECHOSLOVAK SITUATION (AS OF 1200 HOURS)

Created: 5/9/1968

OCR scan of the original document, errors are possible

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MancUtory RevSe*

MEMORANDUM

SUBJECT: The Czechoslovak Situation (as0 hours)

Soviet troops are moving

claims to have seen Sovietln the dlroction of Czechoslovakia In anof Krakow

contingent* had taken four hours to pass one During theny,'- :'

south of

Warsaw; and forced to return to the Polish capital. On stopped on the hlshway SamaaammV

north of Warsaw and told to return. After protestswo hour wait, ho was allowed to proceed.

APPROVED FOR

DISSEM

n 9

tie had hoard "Lasteport of troop movements on tho Czechoslovak border.

ruraors going around Warsaw that Soviet troops are moving Into Czechoslovakia.

Soviet troops "era moving In the area and that these aovements more connected with developments in

5. ariety of Soviet ground forces that

could be called upon If Moscow should come to the point

of military intervention In Czechoslovakia. The forces

In the Carpathian Military District

consist of thirteen divisions".

Four of the five .tank divisions thero are considered combat

ready, and two of tho eight motorized riflo divisions

-2-

SEC!

NO iWfiXGN DXSSEM

la.the area are considered combat ready. The closest

formation to Czechoslovakiaotorized rifle division

at ttahgorod on the Ukrainian-Czechoslovak bordor. The

Soviets haveank andotorized rifle divisions ln

Bast Germany, two tank divisions in Poland, and two tank

and two motorized rlflo divisions in Hungary. All ot

these forces are conslderod to be combat ready,

6.

zechoslovak party boss Dubcok told interviewers at homeay that be had calmed the "anxieties" of Soviet leaders about the course of events inIt deems clear that the Soviets, on the other hand, did

3.M

s4M

accept Dubcek's assurances that he can control the pace and scope of democratization. ay Pravda quoted Dubcek, thus informing Soviet readers of their leaders' "anxieties."

ommentaries on Czechoslovakia from Poland, and

a.

|may be of significance. The Poles have continued to attack the "alien, anti-socialist trend in tha political life" of Czechoslovakia. The main party daily, Trybuna Ludu, said that this trend ia "aimed at undermining tho guiding role of the workingommunist) party, liquidating people's (Communist) power and setting Czechoslovakia at variance with fraternal socialist countries." The Hungarian party-controlled popular front paper, Magyar Neinzet, on the other hand, saiday it could seo nothing wrong with Czechoslovakia's new action program or its reforms.

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would appear that Moscow has decided to do some sabor-ratting in order to influence the Czechoslovaks torake on their democratization.

Original document.

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