PRAGUE CASTLE: DELEGATES ARRIVE BY CAR: RED PAINT PAINTED OVER DUBCEK'S PORTRAIT: MAN PAINTING WALL: SVOBODA AND DUBCEK PICTURE IN SHOPWINDOW.




Initials MJS/V/PN/OS



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Background: A CRUCIAL SESSION OF THE CZECHOSLOVAK COMMUNIST PARTY CENTRAL COMMITTEE, CALLED TO DECIDE THE POLITICAL FATE OF ALEXANDER DUBCEK, BEGAN IN PRAGUE CASTLE YESTERDAY (SEPTEMBER 25).

MR. DUBCEK LED THE REGIME WHICH BEGAN THE LIBERALISATION PROGRAMME BROUGHT TO A HALT BY THE AUGUST 1968 WARSAW PACT INTERVENTION.

SINCE THE INTERVENTION, THERE HAS BEEN MUCH SPECULATION ON MR. DUBCEK'S FUTURE. THOUGH HE WAS REPLACED AS FIRST SECRETARY OF THE PARTY BY DR. HUSAK, HE IS STILL A MEMBER OF THE NATION'S ELEVEN-MAN RULING PRESIDIUM.

AS THE LEADERS DELIBERATE IN THE CASTLE -- A DECISION IS NOT EXPECTED UNTIL SUNDAY -- THERE IS LITTLE EVIDENCE OF POPULAR UNREST. RED PAINT NOW COVERS THE PRO-DUBCEK POSTERS AND SLOGANS WITH WHICH PRAGUE'S WALLS ONCE ABOUNDED. WHILE FILMING IN THE CITY, OUR CAMERAMAN FOUND ONLY ONE PUBLICLY DISPLAYED PICTURE OF MR. DUBCEK: IN A SHOP WINDOW, ACCOMPANIED BY A PHOTOGRAPH OF CZECHOSLOVAKIA'S PRESIDENT, MR. SVOBODA.