INVASION OF CZECHOSLOVAKIA: NAKED DISPLAY OF RUSSIAN EXPANSION

• Document Type: CREST
• Collection: General CIA Records
• Document Number (FOIA) /ESDN (CREST): CIA-RDP70B00338R000300190024-9
• Release Decision: RIFPUB
• Original Classification: K
• Document Page Count: 4
• Document Creation Date: December 16, 2016
• Document Release Date: July 25, 2005
• Sequence Number: 24
• Publication Date: October 12, 1968
• Content Type: OPEN

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,October 12, 1968 CONGRESSIONAL RECORD-Extensions of Remarks E8947
REPRESENTATIVE WOLFF'S
REGULAR NEWSLETTER
HON. LESTER L. WOLFF
OF NEW YORK
IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
Thursday, October 10, 1968
Mr. WOLFF. Mr. Speaker, at regular
intervals I report to my constituency of
matters of concern to them here in the
Congress and my activities in general.
Under leave to extend my remarks I wish
to include in the RECORD my regular re-
port for October:
OCTOBER 1968.
DEAR FRIEND: As I prepare this regular
newsletter Congress is nearing adjournment
for the year. Thus you may receive this after
adjournment, but I believe the information
contained here is still relevant.
Moreover, consistent with my annual prac-
tice, I will be mailing to you as soon as pos-
sible a newsletter summarizing the work of
the second session of the 90th Congress,
major legislation passed and my votes on
'those major Bills.
In this newsletter, however, I would like to
discuss several different items all of which I
believe you will find of interest and should
be aware of so that you might be completely
up-to-date on my activities in your behalf in
the Congress.
FLOYD BENNETT FIELD TO OPEN, WILL HELP
REDUCE JET NOISE
In my last newsletter I told you of my
efforts to have Floyd Bennett Field in Brook-
lyn open to general aviation to reduce air
traffic congestion at Kennedy and LaGuardia
airports. By speeding the movement of air-
craft in the New York area this would, in
turn, alleviate the unhealthy and annoying
menace of jet noise, while providing obvious
convenience to air travellers.
I am pleased to report that in a complete
departure from precedent the Navy Depart-
ment and the Federal Aviation Administra-
tion have agreed to my proposal and steps are
now being taken to implement my recom-
mendations about Floyd Bennett Field. -
The specifics of this proposal should be
worked out In the near future and I look for-
ward to the beneficial impact this will have
on the jet noise and air traffic problems in
New York.
NIGERIA-DIAFRA
I was approached one year ago by repre-
sentatives of the government of Biafra who
wanted to know if I could do anything to
help alleviate the suffering in their homeland
and possibly influence Nigeria to negotiate
with Biafra. This was long before the critical
situation Iin Biafra received the attention it
has received in recent months.
At that time, in accord with Congressional
practice, I approached Chairman Barratt
O'Hara of the House Subcommittee on Africa
and apprised him of my conversations with
the Biafran representatives. Further discus-
sions ensued and, as must be the rule in such
cases, nothing was said publicly about our
meetings.
During this time I was in corresponding
with the State Department urging that the
maximum possible human relief be sent to
Biafra where thousands are starving to death
daily. Most recently I sponsored legislation
calling upon the President to request the
United Nations to act to relieve the suffering
and starvation in Biafra.
I recount this history of my activities for
you because I have received many letters
from people, who like myself, are concerned
that we not stand silently by while an entire
population starves to death. I feel great anxi-
ety for the situation in Biafra and hope the
United States and the world community will
rally with increased energy to end the suf-
fering there.
The United States has worked through the tion of loan shark credit frauds against U.S.
International Red Cross and other interna- servicemen, especially on overseas assign-
tional organizations, however these efforts ments. On the basis of our work we have pro-
have not solved the problem and concerted posed to the Defense Department, and have
international action through the United Na- begun to implement the idea, that credit
tions is necessary. unions be established on all U.S. military
It does not matter whether or not this is bases.
civil war, because we are not proposing mili- The Defense Department has been recep-
tary involvement. We are talking about tive to our ideas and Committee Chairman
human involvement and we cannot remain Wright Patman, in transmitting to me a
silent as hundreds of thousands starve. to letter from Secretary Clifford, wrote: "I know
death. you will gain satisfaction from the high
RECOGNITION FOR VOLUNTEER FIREMEN ?-esteem?in which the Secretary of Defense and
There is legislation pending in the-Con-
gress to provide federal compensaji6n to civil
service firemen injured or kill gd in the line
of duty during civil disturp nces or while
protecting federal property Although final
action will not be taken of this measure this
year it has excellent prospgcts of passage next
an amendment to see that von teer firemen
have the same opportunities for ederal pro-
the inquiry regarding the establishment of
credit unions in Europe."
I am very much encouraged that all service-
men will have access to credit unions in the
near future and thus not be forced into the
hands of loan sharks and unscrupulous credit
companies.
- NATIONAL ECONOMY
As a postscript to my July newsletter in -
which I detailed why I voted against the
ten percent tax surcharge, I would note that
the tax increase has not, as I predicted,
slowed the inflation that diminishes the
value. of the dollar
Judiciary Subcommittee and request that problems is not with Increased taxation but
volunteers be explicitly included in the slope rather with less federal spending and I have
of this legislation. The Subcommittee su continued to vote against wasteful and re-
ported my proposal and it is with pleasu dundant appropriations in several different
that I can report the outlook is excellent that areas. I certainly hope that Congress will
another of my amendments to pending legis- 'Permit the tax surcharge to lapse on schedule
lotion will become law, ilg,June because it has not done its job and
'
illy testimony before the Subcommittee:
"Our volunteer firemen, as those of us living
on Long Island well know, spend countless
hours away from their families, take great
personal risk and commit themselves to a
demanding yet vital responsibility, all be-
cause of a great sense of civic duty.
"They [the volunteer firemen] do this
without pay and often without well-deserved
public recognition. It is only appropriate and
equitable that these volunteers have the
same federal protection extended to paid
firemen."
MIDDLE EAST PEACE
As has happened each of the past three
years, an amendment I offered to the Foreign
Aid Act has become law.
This year the Congress accepted my
amendment asking the President to sell to
Israel, on a cash basis, sufficient supersonic
jets to provide Israel with an adequate de-
terrent force and thus help head-off possible
full-scale war in the Middle East.
Recently, in signing the Act Into law,
President Johnson announced that consistent
with Congressional support for the Wolff
amendment he had instructed Secretary of
State Rusk to begin negotiations with Israel
for the sale of the jets to that beleaguered
nation.
I believe acceptance of my amendment by
the Congress and the President's responsive-
ness will do a great deal to preserve the peace
in the Middle East.
WOLFF SWITCHBLADE KNIFE DILL
Chairman Harley O. Staggers of the House
Interstate and Foreign Commerce Commit-
tee has informed me that he will give priority
to the Wolff Switchblade Knife Bill when
Congress reconvenes in January. The Chair-
man, a co-sponsor of my Bill to effectively
end the proliferation of these instruments of
violence, said he thinks It is an important
piece of legislation- and should be dealt with
as quickly as possible.
The active support of Chairman Staggers,
combined with the co-sponsorship of 114
Congressmen, should open the door for im-
mediate action on the Wolff Switchblade
Knife Bill in January, when the 91st Con-
gress convenes.
GI CREDIT FRAUDS AND LOAN SHARKS
As I indicated to you several months ago
I am conducting a Congressional investiga-
has
rproven an unnecessary burden to over-
taxed citizens.
These then are certain of the problems
I have'^,worked to solve in recent days and
my feelings on certain of the Issuesfacing
questions are welcome.
With best wishes, I am -
Sincerely yours,
LESTER L. WOLFF,
Your Congressman,
POLANP: A GREAT NATION
YEARNING TO BE FREE
HON.1 CLAUDE PEPPER
OF FLORIDA
IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
Thursday, October 10, 1968
Mr. ,PEPPER. Mr. Speaker, Novem-
ber 11` will mark the 50th anniversary of
the re-creation of the Polish state fol-
lowing World War I. Since we will not be
in session on that date to mark this in
portant anniversary with timely remarks
I wish to direct to my colleagues today a
few words appropriate to that occasion,
which will be celebrated by Polish-
American organizations throughout our
country.
This day will be a time of especial
remembrance for Polish-Americans; a
day for recalling in sorrow the tragic fate
of Poland, a nation which even yet lan-
guishes in the Soviet vise; but also a day
for hope, and pride, and firm adherence
to the cause of freedom.
November 11 is a day for hope, and for
Polish pride, because it serves to remind
not only those Americans of Polish de-
scent, but, indeed, all the world, of the
significant contributions which Poland
has made to history-contributions
which derive from a spirit that will not
be crushed, that offers positive evidence
of Poland's will to endure.
Since the days of the Jagellonian
kings, Poland has been a vital European
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E 8948 CONGRESSIONAL RECORD - Extensions o entar, s
power, not only in the political arena, progress in the next 8 years becjiuse of in 1968 only Yugoslavia and aumania,
through their leaders, Tito and Ceausescu,
but also in the cultural and scientific the foundation put down by the Demo- repectively, declared their solidarity with
spheres as well. Copernicus literally re- erotic administration. Our problems Czechoslovakia and their readiness to defend
oriented the world, as did the brilliant today result from such great progress. their countr1e8 with armed forces. cjme what
Marie Sklodowska-Curie. And if Fred- When minority groups and others are may.
eric Chopin conquered the hearts of the doing better, each member of that group In 1939 Hitler and Stalin collaborated in
II In 1968 East Gand erma,i . started
Parisian nobility, his compatriots Pulaski asks himself why he has not made prog- the l3 desWar tructic-n of
troopers
and Kosciuzsko left legends still honored ress. Of course, there is ferment, but it is were allowed t march astir storm puppets
by Americans of every class, the ferment of hope and of & better and Into allowesltoaa. h their with tze Soviet, along
We will not forget Poland, despite her more stable society for all. Polish. Hungl,rtan and Bulgarian troops. In
present travail. We know that she will We are having trouble in this country 1939 the Polish armies, in tacit agreement
emerge from Soviet domination, as she with the issue of crime in the streets and with Hitler, seized a part of the Czech terri-
has in the past thrown off the foreign lawlessness. I think our problem comes tory but. tron_cally, In September of the same
yoke; that she will once again be free to from 37 years of neglect of our law en- year Poland Itself was crushed by Hitler. In
contribute to the peace and stability of forcement institutions. We have tried to 1968 the Poltih s Slanow led by the
and the world. get by on the cheap; we were unprepared stans, attac d itIPs "Slav i le ter" republic the rom for any stress. Our fear of this problem CPoaamchhoslavak nkst press prior to the invasion
is such that we do not blame ourselves, of Czechoslovakla, it would seem that public
we blame the Negro. Progress in any field opinionIn Poland was for "punb:hing" the
PROGRESS does not come from looking for SCape- Prague government. The polish army organ,
goats. It comes from facing problems. Zolnierz Wotnosci (Soldier of Freedom),
HON. ROBERT N. C. NIX I believe that this is a time for great came out for a "massive intervention" on the
hope in America. One more groui'i of part of the Polish People': Republic to curb
OF PENNSYLVANIA Americans is fully participating in Amer- the liberalization process in Czecaoslovakla.
IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES ican life. Expectations are rising, and It was clear that no satellite government
could be exposed to the winds of freedom
Thursday, October 10, 1968 they are going to be fulfilled. We have without crumbling.
Mr. NIX. Mr. Speaker, during this done our work in the Congress and for Communist Russia, the historic enemy of
years we will look back on the work of freedom, dared not let the Communist lead-
there in the land nand d that is is a great product and of the loud press- noise the 89th and 90th Congress with pride erstip of Prague juggle with frecdclom. Even
in th because it is the foundation for many the least injection of it night have shaken
dential campaign. In a time when we are tomorrows. serro term foundation o vfahtthe ivost viet Russian
all promised a great future if we only And the Berlin
moved i with a brutal
change the party in power, it is worth- display of tanks and air power, under a cyni-
while to think about where we have been INVASION OF ZECHO cal pretext that no sane man could accept
and where we are going. NAKED DISP RUSSIAN as reasonable and logical. The liberalization
In July the Census Bureau issued a re- EXPANSION process in Czechoslovakia was not the violent
and anti-Communist revolu-
port entitled "Recent Trends in Social
tion olent
and Economic Conditions of Negroes antsess in Czechoslovakia
ill ufu t a of Hungary in 1956, in which hundreds
the United States"-Current Population HON. EDWARD J. DERWINSKI of Communists were hanged from lamp posts
Report, series P-23, No. 26, BLS Report OF ILLINOIS In the streets and trees In the countryside.
No. 347. This report made the following IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES The unbellieose.Czechs and Slovaks did not
major findings: quit the Warsaw Pact, they planned no at-
Thursday, October 10, 1968 tacks on Russia. The country was peaceful,
First. About 1 million nonwhites rose and not in disorder, and the Prague gov-
the poverty levels in 1967, according to Mr. DERWINSKI. Speaker, an aWl not, in full control, did not call for out-
the poverty standard of the Federal Gov- extremely thoughtful and sound analysis side Intervantion. No Western radio was
eenment. of the Russian seizure of Czechoslovakia ber.ming any calls for "liberation" and "rev-
Second. Negroes are proportionately WES written for the September 1-15 edi- elution`' against Russian domination. The
less likely to live in poverty areas of large Lion of the Ukrainian Bulletin by its dis- Prague leaders believed in the righteousness
cities than before. In 1960, 77 percent of tinguished editor, Mr. Walter Dushnyck. of their carse. and The Comrtuntst g vernme is
all nonwhite families living in large Mr. Dushnyck is a recognized authority oof Yugoslavia t parties were morally
cities resided in the poverty areas of On conditions behind the Iron Curtain the wthe 's communiscobs and t partie
these cities. In 1966, the percent was 62. and his profound inside into the foreign Yet Moscow had to act as it did, for fear
In 1968, this proportion was down to 56 policy machinations of the Russians Is of the epidemic quality of freedom.
percent living in the poverty areas-1960 apparent in the following articles: "In- ;come of our policy-makers are patting
boundaries. vasion of Czechoslovakia: Naked Dis- themselves on the back. But the U.S. and the
Third. The number of Negroes living play of Russian Expansion," "Death W,sstern World is not absolved of the guilt of
in the central cities of metropolitan areas Comes to Czechoslovak Freedom," and Indifference toward Russian Imperialism. The
"UCCA Raps Russian Seizure of Czech- Wlst is guilty collectively of being naive and
grown had steadily and sharply until very fo:' believing that the USSR has now under-
recently, . However, between 1966 and 1968 oslovak(a.'? gone such changes that a direct confronta-
the increase stopped, and there Is some Under unanimous consent I submit tion Is exc:uded. Sen. Eugene McCarthy ex-
evidence to indicate an actual decline- these articles for inclusion in the CoN- emplifted this thinking when he glibly stated
constituting a sharp change in recent GRESSIONAL RECORD, as follows: that the iInvrassi n of Czechoslovakia was "not
trends. I From the Ukrainian Bulletin, Sept What the effect of the Soviet seizure of
Fourth. In 1967, for the first time, sub- 1-15, 19681 Czechoslovakia will be is not hard to visual-
stantially more than half of all nonwhite INVASION OF CZECHOSLOVAKIA: NA1{ED DISPLAY 1z3, The Czechs and Slovaks will be ruled
workers had white-collar, craftsman, and OP-RUSSIAN EXPANSION by Soviet Russian gnulefters, perhaps Mos-
semi-skilled Jobs. Last year this was a On August 21. 1968, Czechoslovakia was cc.w will even create two sep,,rate "Soviet
net gain of about one-quarter of a million Invaded by some 650,000 Warsaw Pact troops, Republics" Of Czechta and Slovakia and add
nonwhite workers in these jobs. those of the USSR, Poland. Hungary, Bulgaria them to the list of captive nl.tions of the
Fifth. The unemployment rate for non- and East Germany. It was almost the 30th USSR. The national minorities 'n Czechoslo-another
h- v
rape of
ung white married men is down to 3.3 percent, osslovalc a r fore In 1938 It was terrorizedeby an dt Polese-wiilll again be subjected toasoul-
Sixth. The education gap between littler, and In March, 1939, occupied by Nazi less and sterile Communist ideology.
young whites and nonwhites has been Germany. Hungary, the then ally of Hitler, Yugoslavia and Rumania, meanwhile, are
reduced to about one-half year-12.2 grabbed Carpatho-Ukraine. and together jittery, be,ause it Is possible that the Rus-
him may grab them as will ?
years of schooling for non-whites, com- o thUkPoland, Ukrainians destroyed bCudddii( gfreeeddo 9 si an Wool siv stopMoloch
percent years the whites. Today- both Poland and Hungary have sent their President Charles de Gaulle of France, al-
1968-58 to 12.6
graduates, as co m- armies against Czechoslovakia. In 1939 t'aough he denounced the Soviet seizure of
adults s 8 are high prh school of tchool he young
am- hoslovakia. Rumania and Yugoslavia Czechoalovakia, repeated his Intention to
pared with only 50 percent 2 years ago [ zec constituted the so-called "Little Entente," pursue hil. policy of defame. The same senti-
and 39 percent in 1960. backed by France, which along with Great went prevails In Washington, where some-
There has been great progress made Britain at least made an effort to save times oict one hears ae, ars thyatftthe" Pague-Moscow
in the past 8 years, there will be greater Czechoslovakia.
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 Octo~er"`M, 19 6%ppro`90I'gGRftk A~OWPLW&kd 8 Pi 9 :0;?8 gPRP190024-9 E 8949
NATO and the United Nations have dis- and the effect on the non-Russian national
played, in the face of the latest Soviet ag- groups in the Soviet Union-especially the
gression, a total "Inactivity," as if the free- rebellious Ukrainians right next door to
dom of 14 million people in Czechoslovakia Czechoslovakia-was all too easily predict-
was none of their concern. able." (The New York Times Magazine, Sep-
The tragedy of the people of Czechoslovakia tember 1, 1968).
is the tragedy of all men who cherish free- And a penetrating comment appeared in
dom. But the end of it is not yet in? sight: another influential American magazine:
the world at large has as yet to wind its moral "Certainly, the Kremlin's moves confirm
stamina and courage to stand up against the
aggressor.
that in one perspective the Soviet regime is
indeed the historical successor of the pre-
Communist Empire . Czechoslovakia Is a
[From the Ukrainian Bulletin, Sept. 1-15,, most sensitive area from the standpoint of
1968] Russian strategic security. It is a potential
DEATH COMES TO CZECHOSLOVAK FREEDOM
The short-lived freedom in Czechoslovakia
has been ruthlessly extinguished by the Rus-
sian totalitarians and imperialists, with the
active connivance and blessings of the Com-
munists governments of Poland, Hungary,
Bulgaria and East Germany.
The Kremlin, scorning the meek protests
and pious reactions of the Western world,
has once again asserted its self-given right
to invade any "socialist" country which It
deems to be in its sphere of influence.
Western statesmen and observers, ever
reluctant to take a hard look at the USSR,
continue to delude themselves with the belief
that the invasion and seizure of Czechloslo-
vakia by the USSR and its four subservient
Communist puppets will, in the long run,
prove disastrous for Moscow and Its world
communist movement. Be that as it may, the
fact remains that the young freedom in
Czechoslovakia, precariously blooming after
20 years of Communist oppression and stag-
nation, has been dealt a lethal blow by Mos-
cow, the perennidl seat of tyranny and anti-
freedom forces.
DUDCEK: FREEDOM MARTYR
In. the aftermath of the Soviet Russian
seizure of Czechoslovakia some considera-
tions come to mind. First of all, the person
and character of Alexander Dubcek, the
courageous leader of the liberalization course
in the country since his assumption of the
party leadership after the ouster of Antonin
Novotny. He has invariably been described
as an "idealist" who believed in the right-
eousness of his reforms. Like all communist
nationalists. Dubcek has now been taught
that Soviet Communism admits of only one
master.
For nationalism is anathema to the Krem-
lin. After the Bratislava meeting on August
3, 1968, the Soviet press published a state-
ment which also appeared in the August 6,
1968 issue of Literaturna Ukraine of Kiev.
Made on behalf of the "Communist and
Workers' Parties" of the Socialist countries,
it reads:
"The participants (at Bratislava) ex-
pressed a firm desire to do everything in their
power towards the deepening of the all-sided
collaboration of their countries on the basis
of the principles of equality, respect for
sovereignty and national independence, ter-
ritorial integrity, brotherly mutual self-as-11
sistance and solidarity. . .
Among the signatories of the Bratislava
meeting were L. Brezhnev, N. Podgorny, A.
Kosygin, M. Suslov, P. Shelest, K. Katushev
and B. Ponomarev-the principal culprits of
the Czechoslovak takeover, who ordered the
invasion of Czechoslovakia only 18 days after
attesting to the above statement.
After the meeting in Cierna the crisis be-
came imminent, especially after the visit to
Prague of Walter Ulbricht, the dogmatic East
German puppet of Moscow. Alarmed as only
freedom can alarm it, Moscow had to crush
the nascent freedom of Czechoslovakia. In
dire jeopardy was its shaky empire. Wrote
Prof. Albert Parry of Colgate University:
"Nor was It just a matter of Prague alone.
The domino theory applies. With Prague
gone, Warsaw and Budapest and certainly
Bucharest would follow. The restless Soviet
intellectuals would become yet more restless
with such tempting examples before them,
entry point for any Western Invader, above
all the German invader who has twice in this
century marched eastward; and all the more
disturbing because Czechoslovak territory
leads into the Ukraine, which has demon-
strated in a hundred crises over five centuries
that many of its people refuse to become rec-
onciled to rule from Russian Moscow .. .
(National Review, Sept. 10, 1968).
ABDUCTION OF ENEMY LEADERS-AN OLD
RUSSIAN CUSTOM
In seizing Czechoslovakia the Soviet gov-
ernment virtually abducted Alexander Dub-
cek and his ministers. They were brought to
Moscow in chains to negotiate! Yet this is
an old practice of Russian governments, both
Czarist and Soviet, To be recalled is that Mus-
covite governments used to kidnap Ukrainian
Kozak emissaries, who subsequently were
never heard of. We all recall the pressure
exerted on the Baltic States in 1940, on Fin-
land in 1939-40. Known now is the Katyn
massacre of the Polish officers, as well as the
"negotiations" in 1956 with Premier Imre
Nagy and Gen. Pal Maleter, who never saw the
light of day again after meeting the Russians.
Dubcek and Svoboda were allowed to re-
turn from Moscow alive, but they brought
with them a political death sentence for
their people. The "mutual agreement" turned
to be a typically shameless Russian diktat,
which was summarized in 14 Points and made
public in Prague (cf. The New York Times,
Sept. 8, 1968). The Czechoslovak leaders were
forced to sign away the sovereignty and in-
dependence of their country. Replacing it
is the "Soviet type of socialism," with some
500,000 Soviet and other Communist troops
remaining indefinitely in the country to "pro-
tect" its Western frontiers from "German
revanchism." Once all the occupation appa-
ratus is fully established, the Russians can
be counted upon to get rid of Dubcek and
replace him with a docile and subservient
puppet. For the Russians can never be satis-
fied with their neighbors and/or even their
own people unless and until the fires of
freedom are thoroughly stamped out.
THE IMMORALITY AND CULPABILITY OF THE WEST
The brutal seizure of Czechoslovakia by
the Soviet Union has nakedly exposed the
West's immorality and culpability. In to-
day's nuclear world nobody in his sane mind
expected the United States, Great Britain
or France to mobilize its forces and dispatch
an ultimatum to the Kremlin. But the West
could have exerted strong pressure on the
Kremlin, or at the very least remonstrated
sharply.
It is now being reported that the USSR
and its slave states had been preparing for
the invasion of Czechoslovakia for almost
six months. CIA is said to have reported to
the U.S. Government on August 2, 1968, that
the seizure of Czechoslovakia was imminent.
Newsweek (Aug. 12, 1968) reported that
President Johnson looked at 23 different
drafts of position papers on the ferment In
Czechoslovakia and "finally decided that the
best course for the U.S. to follow was to
say nothing at all." A State Department
official explained: "The Russian-Czech con-
flict threatened to blow .up Johnson's
bridge-building program to the East.. . . He
just hated the idea and couldn't bring him-
self to do anything about it...."
But the U.S. Government was not alone
in failing to grasp the great significance of
the Czechoslovak crisis. None of the Presi-
dential candidates made any telling state-
ment, nor did the platform planks of either
major party hardly make any mention of the
Imminent threat to the uneasy balance of
political forces in Central Europe, or to the
plight of the captive nations. The plain truth
is that America failed to exploit the Czech
opening for fear that It might inconvenience
the Russians. U.S. policy vis-a-vis the USSR
remains predicated on the principle of not
embarrassing the Russians, even if this
should entail sacrifice of moral principles
and, we fear, the future of freedom in the
world as'well.
The reactions of several European govern-
ments have been clearly anti-American. In
Great Britain, France, Italy and elsewhere
the feeling has clearly arisen that the John-
son Administration is playing the big-power
game with Moscow, especially after it was
reported that President Johnson still wanted
to meet Kosygin to discuss a limitation of
nuclear arms the day after the Soviet Rus-
sian invasion of Czechoslovakia. The New
Statesman went so far as to say:
"It is now pretty obvious that the Amer-
icans gave the Russians carte blanche to in-
vade Czechoslovakia." (cf. The New York
Times, September 9, 1968) .
President de Gaulle of France recently de-
nounced the Russian grab of Czechoslovakia,
but put the blame on the Yalta agreement,
which he said divided Europe into Soviet and
American spheres of influence. The Bonn gov-
ernment feels indignant inasmuch as Chan-
cellor Kurt Georg Kiesinger failed to convince
Secretary of State Rusk of the urgency of
calling an emergency meeting of NATO.
Moreover, Rumania and Yugoslavia, which
forthrightly denounced the Russian seizure
of Czechoslovakia, have been left at the
mercy of Moscow (although the British For-
eign Secretary has visited Bucharest to ce-
ment ties with the Rumanian Communist
government). The lukewarm attitude of the
United States toward the events in Czecho-
slovakia may well have doomed the chances
of the forces of freedom to assert themselves
in those countries in our time.
So the first act-possibly, the third act-
of the Czechoslovak tragedy is over.
Soviet Russian brutality has now extended
to the German and Austrian frontiers.
Not only the Czech and Slovak peoples, but
the national minorities in Czechoslovakia-
Hungarians, Ukrainians, Poles and Ger-
mans-have been denied again their wish to
live in freedom and to develop their national,
cultural and religious institutions.
Czechoslovakia, betrayed in 1938, again has
been abandoned. The Russian aggressive ap-
petite remains wholly unrestrained.
From the Ukrainian Bulletin, Sept. 1-15,
1968]
UCCA RAPS RUSSIAN SEIZURE OP
CZECHOSLOVAKIA
NEW YORK, N.Y.-The Ukrainian Congress
Committee of America (UCCA), speaking on
behalf of some 2-million American citizens
of Ukrainian descent, condemned the Soviet
Russian seizure of Czechoslovakia and de-
manded the immediate suspension of diplo-
matic relations by the United States with the
USSR and three other Communist states
which took part in the invasion of
Czechoslovakia.
Dr. Lev E. Dabriansky, Georgetown Uni-
versity professor and President of the UCCA,
dispatched a letter to Secretary of State
Dean Rusk urging strong and immediate ac-
tion by the U.S. Government. In it the UCCA
President called for "immediate suspension
of diplomatic relations with the USSR," sus-
pension of all trade and cultural exchange
agreements, an action in the U.N. Security
Council toward the withdrawal of all foreign
troops from Czechoslovakia, the immediate
convocation of the NATO allies for "redress-
ing its military posture" and "immediate and
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unstinted support of the Captive Nations," "1. Immediate suspension of diplomatic
who will prove "to be the surest and most relations with the USSR and its Com-
dependable allies of the United States." munist puppet governments of Poland.
In conclusion, Dr. Dobriansky pointed out Hungary and Bulgaria;
that our policy of not "Inconveniencing the "2. Immediate suspension of all trade
Russians" has encouraged the Kremlin mill- agreements and cultural exchange pacts with
tarists and totalitarians to bolder acts of the USSR and Its three satellites which were
aggression and provocation. guilty of contributing to the military ag-
The UCCA Letter to Secretary of State gresslon against Czechoslovakia;
Dean Rusk reads: "3. Immediate action on the part of the
"The Ukrainian Congress Committee of U.S. Government in the U.N. Security Coun-
America, representing over 2-million Amerl- ell for the purpose of vigorous and serious
can citizens of Ukrainian ancestry, is deeply demands for the complete withdrawal of all
shocked at and concerned over the brutal foreign troops from Czechoslovakia:
aggression against and invasion of Czecho- "4. Immediate convocation of the NATO
slovakia by the Soviet Union and its sub- Allies for the purpose of revising Its obsolete
aervient Communist satellites of Poland, policies and redressing its military posture to
Hungary, Bulgaria and East Germany. meet the new Russian threat to Western
"This act of naked rape and violation of Europe;
a soverign state by the powerful militaristic "5. Immediate and unstinted support of
Soviet Russian empire is one of the latest the Captive Nations, held In bondage by the
acts of aggression and violation of other na- Soviet Union. who will prove to be the surest
tions' rights and sovereignties. and most dependable allies of the United
"The underlying reason for this unpro- States.
voked invasion was the fear of the Kremlin "In conclusion, Mr. Secretary, we wish to
leaders-not fear of the Czechoslovak army point out that our policy of caution and
numbering some 175,000 men-but fear of 'bridge-building' has proven not only un-
the ideals of freedom which threatened the realistic and naive, but also very dangerous
shaky Russian Communist empire. to our national security and to the safety of
"We 'are writing you. Mr. Secretary. to the free world. Our policy of not 'inoon-
urge you to undertake necessary steps by the veniencing the Russians,' which was followed
U.S, Government to place the Soviet govern- by the rest of the free world, has encouraged
meat in its proper light in the eyes of the the Kremlin militarists and totalitarians to
world, namely, to condemn the USSR as an bolder acts of aggression and provocation.
unbridled aggressor and violator of the "We sincerely hope that the death of
sovereignty of Czechoslovakia. freedom In Czechoslovakia and the occupa-
"In protesting against the invasion of tion of that country by Soviet and other
Czechoslovakia by the Soviet Union and Its Communist troops will serve as a severe
allies, the Ukrainian Congress Committee of lesson to all who thought that Communist
America is especially concerned with the ef- Russia under the Brezhnev-Kosygin lead-
fect the invasion may have on the 45-million ership Is not an enemy of the civilized world.
Ukrainian nation which neighbors Czechoslo- "We respectfully submit, Mr. Secretary,
vakia. As you undoubtedly know, the Soviet that the U.S. Government will lose prestige as
government has been ruthlessly persecuting a world power and champion of freedom if
Ukrainian intellectuals and youth for clamor- it permits the brutal Soviet invasion of
ing for more freedom and for the develop- Czechoslovakia to go unchallenged."
ment of Ukrainian culture, literature and
the Ukrainian language. According to latest
reliable reports, the events in Czechoslovakia
spurred Soviet Russian persecution of the
Ukrainian people, especially persecution of THE VALOR OF CPL. JOHN T. WOLFE
the Ukrainian Intellectual elite-writers.
poets, literary critics, professors, scientists,
and the like.
"Furthermore, Mr. Secretary, the Russian
Communist Invasion of Czechoslovakia has
placed the Ukrainian national minority In
Eastern Slovakia at the mercy of Russian
Communism. There are some 150,000 Ukrain-
ians in Eastern Slovakia, who had been
allowed by the Dubcek government the free
development of their national culture and
traditions, and above all, their religious life.
The Ukrainian Rite Catholic Church was
officially restored last May by the Prague
Catholics were allowed to practice their own The article follows:
traditional religion in freedom under their
spiritual leader, Bishop Vasyl Hopko, who MEDALS Go POSTHUMOUSLY TO PARENTS OF
spent 13 years in Communist jails under the PATSSSON GI
Stalinist rule of Antonin Novotny. Now all Presentation of the Bronze Star Posthu-
these newly-gained freedoms of the Ukraln- mously was made Friday to Mr. and Mrs.
Ian minority in Czechoslovakia may be ex- George Wolfe, of 953 Main St., parents of the
pected to be curtailed or totally eradicated late Army Corporal John T. Wolfe.
by the Russian Communist totalitarians. Corporal Wolfe. who died June i of wounds
"The shameless invasion of Czechoslovakia suffered while fighting in Vietnam. was buried
by the Soviet Union demonstrates once again at Mary Rest, Veterans Circle, Mahwah on
the undeniable truth that the Soviet Union June 12.
is the continuation of the old Czarist empire.$ presentation of the Bronze Star was
and that Communist Ideology serves only as made by CW 2 Frederick J. Bergeron, of the
a cover for traditional Russian Imperialism Picatlnny Arsenal, on behalf of the com-
and colonialism. Moreover, the myth prop- mending general, First U.S. Army.
agated by some In our government that
"Russian Communism has mellowed" has be Corporal Wolfe, only 20 when he was killed
come an Indefensible farce, In view of the last saw his parents Jan. 29, his mother said.
aggressive designs of Communist Russia She also said that in the letters be wrote
toward other Communist states, such as Ru- home he tried to describe the Vietnamese
mania and Yugoslavia. countryside to his parents.
"Therefore, on behalf of the Ukrainian Corporal Wolfe, who was born in Paterson
Congress Committee of America we would .Dec. 11, 1947, was a graduate of School 9 and
like to suggest to you to take the following Central High School. He had been a teller at
steps: the First National Bank, Clifton branch, and
prior to entering the service Aug. 11, 1967,
was attending Seton Hall University.
Besides the Bronze Star, Mr. and Mrs.
Wolfe', were presented with their son's Na-
tional Defenso Service Medal, the Vietnam
Servile Medal the Vietnam Campaign Rib-
bon, the Combat Infantryrian's Badge, two
Marksmanship Badges and the Purale Heart.
RUSSIAN SEAPOWER IN THE INDIAN
OCEAN
HON. ROBERT L. LEGGETT
OF CALIFORNIA
IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
Thursday, October 10, 1968
M LEGGETT. Mr. Speaker, in Janu-
ary of this year I pointed up the menace
of a growing Russian seapower in the
Med.terranean Sea. This Soviet naval
strength is not limited to the Mediter-
ranean however. The Soviet Nary is now
deployed in strength in the Indian
Ocean, fillin; the power vacuum created
through the British withdrawal East of
the Suez.
This is a combined and closely coordi-
nated build-up of merchant and military
shipping in the Indian Ocean taking ad-
vantage of Soviet base fac',lities at
Hodeida in Yemen and Port Sudan on
the Red Sea.
The withdrawal of Western seapower
in the Indian Ocean has put the United
States in a strategically inferior position,
threatening our Interests in both the
Asian and African continents. I feel it
is Imperative that we rethink our naval
deployment so as to counter the growing
Soviet menace in the Near East.
Aa I have said before, our total in-
volvement with Vietnam has blinded us
to our commitments and responsibilities
In other parts of the world.
I wish to call the attention of Con-
gress to an article by James D. Atkinson
in the September issue of Navy maga-
zine. This article points up in detail the
Russian sea build-up I have eJluded to
above:
THE SOVIET NAVY MOVES IN ANL ACQUIRES
BASES IN THE VACUUM BEING Lxvr BY THE
BlarrlsH, AS THE UNITED STATES HESITATES
(By James D. Atkinson)
Little moro than six months ago the then
Secietary of Defense. Robert Strange Mc-
Namara, told a congresslor_al committee that
"in the 1960's the simple bipolar configura-
tion which we knew In the earlier post-World
War II period began to disintegrate. Solid
friends and Implacable foes are no longer so
easy to label, and labels . . . such as free
word and Iron Curtain, seem increasingly
inadequate as descriptions . of the new
bonds of common interest being slowly built
across what :were thought to be impenetrable
lines of demarcation." (Iti.lics supplied.)
As the gunfire from Soviet tanks reverber-
ate: through the streets of Prague. one may
well ask whether this analysis will prove as
illusory as the former Defense Secretary's
view that the Soviet Union would be unable
to achieve even nuclear equality with the
United States before the early 1970's.
For the pain fact is that the Soviets are
striving mightily to attain not parity, but
strategic superiority over the United States.
And the unfolding evidence suggests that
the major thrust of this search fir strategic
superiority is taking place on the high seas.
The Soviet effort at see. is a total one. It
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HON. CHARLES S. JOELSON
OF NEW JERSEY
IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
Thursday, October 10, 1968
Mr. JOELSON. Mr. Speaker, I insert
an article from the Paterson News of
September 24, 1968, about the valor of
Cpl. John T. Wolfe. He has proved
worthy of his Nation, and I hope and
pray that his Nation will prove worthy of