WORKERS CHEER SVOBODA; SVOBODA AND OFFICIALS APPLAUD.




Initials LH/ORF/V-TELE/SC



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Background: PRESIDENT LUDVIK SVOBODA YESTERDAY (WEDNESDAY) TOLD CZECH CAR WORKERS IN PILSEN THAT THE GOVERNMENT WOULD HAVE TO TAKE UNPOPULAR MEASURES TO FULFIL ITS SIDE OF THE MOSCOW AGREEMENT WHICH FOLLOWED LAST MONTH'S INTERVENTION BY WARSAW PACT TROOPS. HE WAS ADDRESSING WORKERS AND 500 COMMUNIST PARTY OFFICIALS AT THE SKODA FACTORY.

HE SAID THE MOST IMPORTANT QUESTION WAS HOW TO CONSISTENTLY IMPLEMENT THE MOSCOW AGREEMENTS AND NOT ONLY TO TALK ABOUT FULFILLING THEM. THIS WOULD ENABLE THE CZECH GOVERNMENT TO MAKE SIMILAR DEMANDS FROM THE OTHER SIDE.

AS PRESIDENT SVOBODA SPOKE IN THE SKODA CENTRE NEAR THE WEST GERMAN BORDER, THE CZECH NATIONAL ASSEMBLY PREPARED TO MEET ONE OF THE SOVIET DEMANDS - THE REINTRODUCTION OF PRESS CENSORSHIP.

A BILL ON PRESS CENSORSHIP WILL BE DISCUSSED BY THE ASSEMBLY ON FRIDAY. THE MEASURES IT CONTAINS HAVE BEEN DESCRIBED AS TEMPORARY. SOME CZECH LEADERS HAVE EXPRESSED RELUCTANCE TO REIMPOSE PRESS CENSORSHIP BUT THEY SAY THEY'LL VOTE FOR THE BILL PROVIDED IT IS ONLY A TEMPORARY MEASURE.