REACTIONS OF COMMUNIST STATES AND PARTIES TO THE MILITARY ENTRY INTO CZECHOSLOVAKIA (AS OF 1630 HOURS)

• Document Type: CREST
• Collection: General CIA Records
• Document Number (FOIA) /ESDN (CREST): CIA-RDP79B00887A000500010028-1
• Release Decision: RIFPUB
• Original Classification: C
• Document Page Count: 3
• Document Creation Date: December 14, 2016
• Document Release Date: April 3, 2003
• Sequence Number: 28
• Publication Date: August 21, 1968
• Content Type: MEMO

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CENTRAL INTELLIGENCE AGENCY
Dirc'cLorate of lnte].].igence
21 nu in l.Ia(,ill1a.:it ~,t.ry move echoed the SoV,I_et ratfoetalr,
I_o.r :f_i_rssL Polish Onnounc(,me.nt said
Lhc iltl_c 1:vc itL_i.on was it the regtae: L of Czechoslovak
V1 f.) lV c1I1(~. CJtl~ft'.1`l]IllC..1"tL leaclerslll p. This was laf:er
1. 11: (`.1'`C1({ I o read " po I.:.y and > Lu LC ac L:1_v.]_ r I_-s.
in Itutuania, a joint session of party- and gov-
ernment officials and representatives of mass organiza
tions. issued a communique on 21 August which expressed
full solidarity with the Czechoslovak people and the
Czechoslovak Communist party. The communique bluntly
stated that "nothing can justify" armed intervention
against Czechoslovakia which it described as a "flagrant
violation of national sovereignty."
3. Following the joint session, Rumanian party
and state chief Nicolae Ceausescu made a highly na-
tionalistic speech and condemned the action of the
Warsaw Pact five. Ceausescu appealed to the populace
to be calm and firm but vigilant, and ready "at any
moment to defend our socialist fatherland, Rumania."
Ceausescu announced the establishment of Worker-
Peasant Guard units?
No L.e : 1'1~i.s memorandum was prepaped by Lhco 0;;`f r ce
1' C`ta)?rc'r2t /nLsLi~:rL~~)2ce.
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4. In Yuco-lavia, Tito spoke more softly than
Ceausescu, probably because of concern that unrest
might be sparked in Yugoslavia by the Russian action.
Tito merely expressed "concern" over the violation
of Czechoslovakia's sovereignty. The details of the
Yugoslav position probably will be developed tonight
during a meeting at Tito'svacation headquarters on
I3rioni Island,
I'.Tl(.' 1 l_c:1I,LdI flO l'J'c j J, t.'oiiiCllunj,r)I, j.)(.rI..j.(~'.fl
Lol,l no I 1.111l` ill iteitoulluit1O Lhe invLuiiorl. Thu: I'ollt-
buro of t11(-_,, Italian party issued a communique which
was broadcast over Rome domestic service at 7:00 AM
EDT on 21 August. It said that the leading bodies
of the Italian Communist Party had received the de-
cisions of Cierna and Bratislava with great satis-
faction and "the Politburo now finds it incompre-
hensible that the grave decision of a military inter-
vention was taken. The Politburo expresses the emo-
tion and the very great concern which, at this moment,
besets the workers' movement and reaffirms its
sol. I darity with thc' 1lctiorls of renovatL-.ion carried
(All, I)y I:iW t",~t~callcl,; 1,Ov 1k. C(Iu1111111;i_I:I l
6. French Communist Party leaders issued a
statement expressing "surprise and censure" of the
Soviet invasion of Czechoslovakia. It noted that
the party had advocated. that problems arising be-
tween Communist parties should be examined and solved
by means of "fraternal discussions during bilateral
and multilateral meetings which respect each coun-
try's sovereignty and each party's self"determination.
The statement pointed out that the party had already
expressed its opposition to any military interven-
tion from outside. In a sop to Moscow, however, the
French Communists also indicated that the Czechs
should take action against `'anti-Socialist elements
in order to protect socialist gains. The party
Politburo is convening an emergency session of the
Central Committee.
7. Of the Asian Communists, only the North
Vietnamese have reacted publicly. A statement on
Hanoi's domestic radio service on 21 August was an
unequivocal and usually prompt endorsement. It
described the Soviet move as a "noble effort" in
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response to a request from the "party faithful" in
Czechoslovakia. The action, it said was sanctioned
by recent agreements among the six Communist coun-
tries at Bratislava, and was necessitated by do-
mestically inspired "counterrevolutionary" activi-
ties in Czechoslovakia.
8. This reaction is in marked contrast to
Hanoi's heretofore neutral propaganda treatment of
Soviet-Czech differences and was obviously dictated
by North V ntna.m's heavy dependence on Soviet supply.
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