PRAGUE HOPES TRAVEL REFORMS WARD OFF CALLS FOR DEEPER CHANGE

The decision in Prague Tuesday to make travel to the West essentially free, is a preemptive attempt by Czechoslovakia's leaders to stay in power, analysts here say. It is, however, only a small step, since Czechoslovaks have been able to obtain visas to go the West since 1988. But with the old order in Eastern Europe rapidly crumbling around them, the men who have ruled Czechoslovakia since the Soviet invasion in 1968 certainly feel the winds of change and fear that they will be swept away if they don't take action.

Observers here in Warsaw give them only a few more months, unless they quickly introduce broad reforms.