FREE WORLD REACTION TO EVENTS IN CZECHOSLOVAKIA (AS OF 1630 HOURS)

Document Type: 
Collection: 
Document Number (FOIA) /ESDN (CREST): 
CIA-RDP79B00887A000500010022-7
Release Decision: 
RIPPUB
Original Classification: 
S
Document Page Count: 
4
Document Creation Date: 
December 14, 2016
Document Release Date: 
May 22, 2003
Sequence Number: 
22
Case Number: 
Publication Date: 
August 21, 1968
Content Type: 
MEMO
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PDF icon CIA-RDP79B00887A000500010022-7.pdf349.43 KB
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Approved Forease 2/ Q,? ,CIA-RDP79B008800500010022-7 25X1 No. d615/G8 CENTRAI, INTEL,LIGENCE: AGENCY Directorate of Intelligence 21 August 196B 25X6 SUBJECT: Free World Reaction to Events in Czecho- slovakia (as of 1630 hours) yet from areas other than Western Europe. A number of key officials in Europe were on vacation at the time of the event. The tone of comment has ranged from Belgium's expr_ess.i.on of "consternation" and condemna- tion of "methods of coercion which nothing can jus-- ti.fy" to Ann L1:.i.a' ( r.. , l nor. f :i,on of its neutrality and its annoancemerit or a Ifl .li.taLy alert. 't'here have been demon,-,`:rations before c,oviet and other Communist d;l,i,]_oln~ll:::i c en LG.7h]_.i,~ }unolll:s; in :seeve.r.aa I count r..i.es; . Free World reaction to the military interven- tion in Czechoslovakia has been almost universally critical although little reporting is available as Iuro ~r 1. The United Kindd.onl and Wont Germany reacted promptly and strongly. Prime Minister Wilson called the invasion "a tragedy not only for Czechoslovakia but for Europe and the whole world." The Britls Parlia- ment as n e C gency session on 26 August. Britain's attitude was echoed by Prime Min- istry Itolyoake of New Zealand who stated that the in- vasion turned the clock back to the darkest days of the cold war. 2. German Chancellor Kies.nger called a cab- inet meeting and then issued a statement branding the invasion "a clear violation of Czech sovereignty and interference in its internal affairs." A West Ger- man Defense Ministry spokesman indicated that the Federal Republic would assume the same attitude as other members of the NATO alliance. In Bavaria, Note: -This memorandum was prepared b9 t7ai' Of jh ee of Current intelligence. State Dept. review completed 25X1 I Approved For Release 2d / . ': lA-RDP79B00887A000500010022-7 Approved Forease 2003/07/30: CIA-RDP79B008800500010022-7 25X6 goes . In both Britain and Corm.anv demonstrators ap- steps wore taken to provide for poteri.:.i.al Czech ref_u rece ived. Leone was not in Rome when news of the invasion was and progress toward poli_t::.cal integration Of had now become more urgent-.. Italian Prime Miniritcr fore C~.mp David" and that revita].Lzation o*f. NATO their own affairs. Italian Foreign Minister. Mead.:Lci felt that the world had returned to "the peri.od which interfered with the: rights of people to manage 3. French President de' Gaulle's main concern was with the effect on the European detente which L`rnnce had been trying to foster.. Deploring the events in Czechoslovakia, which he felt constituted an attack on thc33~ r.i ghts and destiny of a 1:riend.ly nation, h aie indicated that Moscow apparently still could not free itself from "bloc politics" 4. um and the Nc the r1~rnds I. t.'or~''.i i.y with the 1.956 invasion of Ilungary. . In the Hactue, both the government and the oppos i_tion I,ahor Party tion, and the Belgian radio drew obvious parallels e i.gn Min i-s ter. expressed his government ' s eery:; terrr