== LIIITED OFFICIAL USE HCE349 PAGE 11 PRAGUE 83935 161709Z 40 REC.flYEf> WHCA ACT ION EUR 20 INFO IO 13,CIAE 81,NSAE IB,MSCE 00,sso ee1tf§~raiiiaPl7044~ 82,INR 87, L 03,NSC 19,P 14,SS 25,SP 82,SAH 02,SAL 81,SA ·ll,ACDA 16,NlC 81, RSR 01,RSC e1,cco 01,1113 v 124497 P 16154(£ OCT 68 --------------------- Fll AIEMBASSY PRAGUE · TO SECSTATE VASHDC PRIORITY 5335 INFO AIEIBASSY BELGRADE PRIORITY USIISSION BERLIN A!EllBASSY BONN AMEIBASST BUCHAREST AllEIBASSY BUDAPEST AMEMBASSY LONDON ANEIBASSY IOSCOV All CONSUL IUM ICH AllEllBASSY PARIS AIEIBASSY SOFIA USllISSION NATO AIEIBASSY VIENNA AIEIBASSY VARSAV DIA AIEMBASSY ROME USllISSION USUN NY ~ .,,,,...--_..., jl LillITED OFFICIAL USE tRAG~35 1 SUBJ I KOSYGIN ARRIVES TO SIGN TREATY 1. SOVIET DELESATION INCLUDING KOSYGIN, GROMYKO, GRECHKO AID XUZNETSOV ARRIVED PRAGUE AIRPORT 1508 LOCAL TllE ON INVITATION CZECHOSLOVAK 80VERNIENT. IET BY SMRKOVSXY, CERNIK, KUSAKt ILYNAR, SPACEK AND STROUQAL• ACCORDING TO BRITISH AIR ATTACHE VHO WITNESSED ARRIVAL, DELEGATION WAS ALSO IET BY FIFTEEN SOVIET GENERALS AND TWO CZECH GENERALS . ARRIVAL CEREIOMY I CLUDED CZECH HONOR GUARD AllD BAND VHlCH PLATED SOVIET IAT• LillTED OFFICIAL USE LIIITED OFFICIAL USE I PA8E · fJ2 PRAGUE 03935 161719'Z IONAL ANTHEM. SECURITY SEERED SOMEWHAT RELAXED. 2• PRESUIPTION THAT KOSYQIN CABE TO SIGN TROOP STATIONING TREATY CONFIRIED BY RADIO NEVS WHICH STATED SIQNIRS WOULD TAKE PLACE THIS EVENINa. 3. WESTERN CORRESPONDENTS TELL US THAT AFTER KOSYGIN AND COMPANY ARRIVED AT GOVERN!ENT GUEST HOUSE THEY VERE VISITED BRIEFLY BY CERNIX AND POSSIBLY DUBCEK. ACCORDING RADIO, DUBCEK IS IN TOVNR HAVINB RECEIVED SLOVAK QROUP THIS IORRllS. 4. IT IT TURNS our THAT KOSYGIN HAS IN FACT COIE MERELY TO SIGN TREATY AND NOT TO APPLY PRESSURE ON CZECHS TO ACCEPT . lJIPALATABLE TERIS• THIS WOULD SEEi TO BE SOVIET CONCESSION TO CZECHS. SOVIETS CAN OF COURSE AFFORD SUCH GESTURE SINCE TREATY LEGALIZINS PRESENCE OF TROOPS HERE IS MOSTLY TO THEIR ADVA TAGE. BEAii LIMITED OFFICIAL USE \ . rt