Models of visits by Western Politicians: Poland and Western Diplomats in 1987

Click to increase image sizeClick to decrease image size

Notes

1. Archive of New Acts (further as: AAN), KC PZPR, vo1.V/314.

2. For full text see A. Dudek and A. Friszke (eds.), Polskct 1986–1989: koniec systemu (Poland 1986–1989: The End of the System), vo1.III Dokumenty (Documents) (Warszawa, 2000), pp.13–19.

3. Interview with J. Onyszkiewicz, Tygodnik Mazowsze, No.200, 25 Feb. 1987.

4. During his tour of Europe, while in Prague Whitehead met several activists of the opposition Charter 77.

5. Broniskaw Geremek, historian, member of the democratic opposition in 1976–80, Solidarity activist, since 1983 one of Wałęsa's chief advisers.

6. Janusz Onyszkiewicz, mathematician, Solidarity activist since 1980, dealt with foreign affairs.

7. Zbigniew Bujak, worker, one of Solidarity leaders in 1980–81, conspiracy leader after the proclamation of martial law, captured as late as May 1986, released after the announcement of an amnesty, Solidarity chief in Warsaw.

8. Jacek Czaputowicz, politologist, organiser of the Independent Students' Union in 1980, imprisoned after the proclamation of martial law, co-founder of the ‘Freedom and Peace’ movement. Leo Tindemans, the Belgian Minister of Foreign Affairs, stayed in Poland on 17–19 May 1987. The meeting attended by Czaputowicz took place in the Belgian Embassy in Warsaw.

9. ‘Freedom and Peace’ (WiP), illegal pacifist organization established on 14 April 1985, particularly repressed by the authorities due to its defence of young people refusing to serve in the army.

10. Hans van den Broek, the Dutch Minister of Foreign Affairs, met L. Wałęsa on 1 September 1987.

11. Minister Francesco Fernandez Ordonez paid a visit on 3–5 May 1987. According to Tygodnik Mazowsze (No.202, 11 March 1987), what happened was as follows: two hours before the planned meeting of the minister and a group of opposition politicians, the Security Service detained one of them, Janusz Onyszkiewicz, in the Warsaw Headquarters of the Civic Militia, and released him four hours later, when the Spanish statesman was holding his official meeting; Minister Ordonez demanded the release of Onyszkiewicz and cancelled his planned meeting with Aleksander Krawczuk, the Minister of Culture; after Onyszkiewicz's discharge a brief meeting held in the Spanish Embassy was attended by Onyszkiewicz, Z. Bujak, B. Geremek and Tadeusz Mazowiecki.

12. The Consultation Council of the Chairman of the Council of State (General W. Jaruzelski) existed from 6 December 1986 to 17 July 1989 to win over some of the Catholic activists and independent figures, especially representatives of the world of science. Some of the Catholic activists invited to participate in the Council refused the offer despite encouragement by Primate Józef Glemp. Among those who decided to join the Council was Andrzej Święcicki, who resigned as a result from his function of president of the Warsaw Catholic Intelligentsia Club (KIK). Altogether, out of a total of 56 members, the Council was composed of 7 Catholic activists or KIK members as well as representatives of PAX and the Christian Social Association.

13. This group, headed by Francis Genge, stayed in Poland from 17 to 24 March 1987.

14. Jerzy Popiełuszko (1947–84), priest, Solidarity chaplain, after the proclamation of martial law frequently celebrated Mass for the Homeland, the object of numerous attacks launched by government propaganda, was murdered on 19 October by a group of functionaries from the Ministry of Internal Affairs.

15. This group stayed in Poland on 24–26 June 1987.

16. Adam Michnik, historian and publicist, imprisoned in 1968–70, one of the leaders of the democratic opposition in 1976–80, Solidarity adviser since 1980, imprisoned from the proclamation of martial law to July 1984 and then in 1985–87, one of L. Wałęsa's closest advisers.

17. At the time, Jacques Chaban-Delmas was Prime Minister. I have been unable to establish the reasons for the cancellation of his visit to Poland.

18. The third pilgrimage of John Paul II in Poland took place on 8–14 June 1987.

19. Andrey Sakharov (1921–89), physicist, one of the chief defenders of human rights and Soviet opposition members. On 16 December 1986 Mikhail Gorbachev personally informed Sakharov in a telephone conversation that he could return to Moscow from a compulsory stay in the town of Gorky where he was exiled in January 1980 (after a public condemnation of Soviet intervention in Afghanistan).

20. At the time, M. Orzechowski was a member of the Political Bureau of the Committee of the Polish United Workers' Parry (CC PUWP) and the Minister of Foreign Affairs.

21. Franz Vranitzky, the Chancellor of Austria stayed in Poland (as a representative of the Socialist Parry) 21–24 September 1987.

22. Hans-Jochen Vogel, Chairman of the SPD, was in Poland on 29 September-1 October 1987.

23. Vice-President George H. Bush stayed in Poland on 26–29 September 1987. The programme of the visit was relatively extensive also as regards contacts with the opposition, for example, a meeting with L. Wałęsa was followed by a joint press conference.

24. J. Czyrek, the then member of the Political Bureau and the Secretariat of the Central Committee, dealt with foreign affairs and ideology, and steered the Patriotic Movement for National Rebirth.

25. E. Kucza was head of the Foreign Department in the CC PUWP

26. See note 12.

27. From September 1980 General W Pożoga held the post of Vice-Secretary of State in the Ministry of Internal Affairs.

28. The referendum concerning the rate and range of economic reforms took place on 29 November 1987.

29. H. Bednarski was at the time a member of the Secretariat of the CC PUWP, responsible for, i.a., parry training and the Polish-Soviet Friendship Society.

30. Conference of Independent Poland - an illegal political parry active since September 1979.

31. OPZZ - the All-Polish Trade Union Convention, a pro-government organization established on 24 November 1984 as a counterbalance to Solidarity.

32. At the time A. Gdula was the head of the Socio-Legal Department in the CC PUWP

33. J. Główczyk, at the time a member of the Political Bureau and the Secretariat of the CC PUWP, was responsible for propaganda and the RSW Prasa-Książka-Ruch publishing concern.

34. At the time General J. Baryła was a member of the Political Bureau and the Secretariat of the CC PUWP, responsible for inner-parry information and the General Political Board of the Polish Army (which held the status of a Central Committee department).

35. The authorities lost in the referendum supported by 67% of the population entitled to vote; since 66% and 69% answered ‘yes’ to the two questions, the statutory requirement of obtaining at least 50% of the ‘yes’ votes of whole adult population was not fulfilled.

36. I have been unable to establish what sort of Solidarity undertakings the speaker had in mind.

37. Probably, the speaker had in mind the brutal pacification, torture of detainees, and murders committed by the French army and security forces during the war of independence waged in Algeria in 1954–62.

38. In 1920 Nicola Sacco and Bartolomeo Vanzetti, Italian emigrants and anarchists, were sentenced to death for murder; despite numerous protests organized in their defence by assorted leftist groups, including communists, all over the world, they were executed in August 1927. According to later studies, the crime was committed by members of an Italian-American gang.

39. Robert Kennedy, brother of John F. Kennedy and a Democratic Parry politician, was assassinated by a Palestinian immigrant as an ‘active supporter of Zionism’.

40. Olof Palme, Social Democratic politician and the Prime Minister of Sweden, was assassinated by an unknown person for reasons unexplained up to this day.

41. Gabriel Narutowicz, the President of Poland, was assassinated by a rightist fanatic on 16 December 1922. The formulation about ‘the blessing of the Church’ is exaggerated since no priest blesses an assassin setting off to commit his crime. Admittedly, after the execution of the assassin, assorted churches held prayers for his soul.

42. In other words, by General W. Jaruzelski, who fulfilled this function from 6 November 1985.

43. Andrzej Rozpłochowski, worker, railway engine driver, one of 'Solidarity' leaders since 1980, regarded as a radical, imprisoned 1981–84.

44. Leszek Moczulski, journalist, politician, member of the democratic opposition, founder of the Confederation of Independent Poland, imprisoned 1980–84.

45. Jacek Kuroń, politician, member of the opposition since 1963, imprisoned 1964–67 and 1968–71, one of the most influential Solidarity advisers, imprisoned from the proclamation of martial law to 1984 and again in 1985.

46. Alfred Miodowicz, at the time member of the Political Bureau of the CC PLJWP and Chairman of OPZZ.

47. The visit paid by Hans-Dietrich Genscher, the German Vice-Chancellor and Minister of Foreign Affairs, took place on 10–13 January 1988; the visit paid by the British Prime Minister was on 2–4 November 1988. Both Genscher and Margaret Thatcher met with L. Wałęsa.