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473 Document No. 86: Extract from Protocol No. 40 of CPSU CC Politburo Meeting December 13, 1981 This document instructs Soviet ambassadors in several allied countries, from Berlin to Ulaanbaatar, to inform their host governments of Moscow’s positive reaction to the declaration of martial law. Romania is not included on the list, presumably because of its regular disagreements with the other members of the Warsaw Pact. The message notes approvingly that Jaruzelski kept the operation a closely-held secret . Apparently, the Soviets themselves did not know he was finally prepared to act until as late as the day before. Along with the positive—from the Kremlin’s viewpoint , at least—developments of December 13, however, the Soviets felt obliged to mention the reality that Moscow expected to provide economic aid to the Warsaw regime , which the rest of the alliance knew meant an added burden for all. […] Pay a visit to Cde. Zhivkov (J. Kádár, E. Honecker, Yu. Tsedenbal, g. Husák, F. Castro, Le Duan, K. Phomvihane) and, after referring to the instruction of the CPSU CC, convey the following: “As is well-known to our friends, the Polish leadership introduced martial law in the country, announced the creation of the Military Council for National Salvation and isolated the most extreme elements of ‘Solidarity,’ the ‘Confederation for an Independent Poland,’ and other anti-socialist groups. W. Jaruzelski’s address to the people left a positive impression; in it, in our view, the emphasis was properly placed on fundamental issues. In particular, what is especially important is that the leading role of the PUWP and the fidelity of the PPR to its alliance obligations according to the Warsaw Pact were confirmed. As a condition of the successful execution of the action, the Polish comrades maintained strict secrecy. It was known only to a narrow circle around W. Jaruzelski . Thanks to this, our friends succeeded in catching the adversary by surprise , and the operation is so far proceeding satisfactorily. On the very eve of the implementation of the designated plan, W. Jaruzelski informed Moscow about it. We conveyed to him that the Soviet leadership views such a decision by the Polish comrades with understanding. In addition, we proceed from the assumption that our Polish friends will decide these matters by themselves. According to our preliminary assessment, the actions of our Polish friends are an active step to rebuff the counter-revolution and correspond in this sense to the general line of the fraternal countries. 474 Under these conditions the question arises concerning the provision of political and moral support for the Polish comrades, as well as supplementary economic assistance. The Soviet leadership, as before, will act on the Polish question in contact with the fraternal countries.” Telegraph upon fulfillment. [Source: RGANI, Fond 89, Opis 66, Delo 4. Translated by Malcolm Byrne for the National Security Archive.] ...

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