See Czech Crisis Strengthening Gomulka Against Moczar, Who Led Anti-semitic Drive

The occupation of Czechoslovakia has strengthened the position of Prime Minister Wladislaw Gomulka as opposed to Mieczyslaw Moczar, former Minister of Interior and secret police chief whose anti-Jewish policies were more intense than those of Mr. Gomulka during the “anti-Zionist” campaign this year, it was reported here today. The Russian action in Czechoslovakia was seen by observers as a personal victory for Mr. Gomulka. Mr. Moczar is believed to have been one of the main forces behind the purge campaign last spring, following student demonstrations, which ousted Jews, intellectuals, liberals and others from party ranks and Government jobs. Mr. Gomulka’s alignment with the hard-line of the Soviet Union against the Czech reforms has strengthened his political stance in Poland, but it remains to be seen how Poland’s remaining Jewish population will be affected in the power struggle between the two Polish leaders, sources said.

Warsaw newspapers published a report from Pap the official Polish news agency, stating that “Zionist forces are the most important string-pullers of the counter-revolution in Czechoslovakia.” They named several Jewish and non-Jewish writers. Among the former were Dr. Eduard Goldstuecker, president of the Czech Writers Union, now a refugee in Vienna.