CZECHOSLOVAKIA: Blood from the Turnip

A year ago Russia signed a five-year trade pact with its puppet, Czechoslovakia, sharply boosting the Czechs’ already huge tribute (mostly heavy machinery) to Russia. Early this year Russia upped the ante again. The Czech economy could not take it. Last week, in a frantic effort to meet Moscow’s demands, the Czech Communist regime was shaken up. The Czech Communist Party 1) abolished its governing four-man secretariat, shifted its job to a Soviet-style Politburo and Orgburo; 2) switched Moscow-trained Rudolf Slansky from his top post as party general secretary to Vice Premier, which may or may not mean that he was kicked upstairs; 3) abolished the Ministry of Heavy Industry, spread its functions among five new ministries; 4) set up a new all-powerful Ministry of State Control, headed by a relative unknown, Karel Bacilek, 54, veteran Communist member.

Still in power, until further notice: Czech President Element Gottwald.