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226 Document No. 37: Protocol No. 82 from PUWP CC Politburo Meeting March 25, 1981 At this crucial time, just days after the Bydgoszcz crisis, the Soviets are once more pressing the Polish authorities to introduce martial law. But Kania, as always, is indecisive . Despite Moscow’s demands, Kania and his fellow moderates are more concerned that the popular reaction to the Bydgoszcz assaults was much sharper than expected. Among other steps, Solidarity called for a four-hour warning strike to take place on March 27 and a general strike on the 31st. The authorities are further taken aback that so much of the party base has joined Solidarity. At this Politburo session, the leadership again rejects Soviet insistence that the PUWP now has a pretext for taking harsh measures. The warning strike, the largest such action ever under communist rule, occurred on schedule but a last-minute agreement between the government and the union averted a general strike. […] Agenda: 1. The current socio-political situation in connection with the warning strike announced by NSZZ Solidarity for March 27, 1981. 2. Assessment of the current situation in agriculture. 3. Various matters. Point 1 of the Agenda Comrade Wojciech Jaruzelski reports about the talk of Comrade W. Namiotkiewicz with the adviser of “S,” J. Olszewski, who stated that some in the National Coordinating Commission are turning against Wałęsa, who feels that his position is being threatened. Olszewski proposes to seek a resolution of the conflict through the following: creation of a joint commission of the government and Solidarity to examine events in Bydgoszcz and the issuance of an abolition act including persons arrested up until August 1980. These are the two most important matters whose undertaking could break the impasse in the talks. They are also putting forward the matter of a security guarantee for the union, which bears no reservation, because at the moment of registration the union obtained a guarantee of security. He proposes that the matter of abolition be handled by the attorneys. There is a lot of pressure for talks, for resolution of the conflict and avoidance of a strike. There is a letter from a party organization of the work institute “Elwro” regarding this matter (Comrade S. Olszowski—this organization is ailing; Comrade W. 227 Kruk—one cannot make an evaluation in such a manner because soon we will be left without party organizations, only the bureaucracy; there are tens of such organizations. I would like to know whether the report of Comrade Bafia24 is already known and whether we are in a position to prove the details of the evaluation that is included in the PB statement on the 22nd of this month). Comrade Kazimierz Barcikowski—One should take into consideration Olszewski ’s suggestions relayed to Comrade Namiotkiewicz. If these matters could be a starting point for further talks, which could result in the aversion of a strike, it would be a success. He proposes: adopting the idea of creating a joint commission , accepting the question of abolition on the basis that it will be handled by the attorneys (Comrade R. Ney—I support; Comrade T. Fiszbach supports both motions). Comrade Andrzej Żabiński—One should carefully approach the matter of the commission. We cannot lose the trust of the security service and the Citizens’ Police, they were acting under orders. Do not treat it lightly, the atmosphere in the organs is still good, let us not abuse it. Demanding abolition, that is pardoning punishment; stopping the repression against those who were breaking the law prior to August is without precedent. The PB statement from the 22nd of this month was well received by aktiv party members. Comrade Stefan Olszowski—I propose that in the talks Comrade Rakowski takes note of the suggestion of abolition without taking a position. Comrade Henryk Jabłońsk—Initially accept the matter of abolition. Comrade Mirosław Milewski—Demand 1 regarding a mixed commission is important, it is not safe. Comrade Stanisław Kania—The matter of Bydgoszcz was investigated by a commission of experts, a government commission under the leadership of Minister of Justice Comrade J. Bafia, and now are we to agree to the creation of a joint commission of the government and “S”? Such a commission is going to investigate our people; it is impossible, they will not endure such pressure (Berger, Młodecki, others), it will be they who will inquire into who gave an order. Abolition can be considered conditionally, and it cannot...

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