é N e we Se MAIN TASKS DURING PERIOD OF RENOVATION. PUWP’s newspaper under martial law fashion. All resolutions of plenary sessions of the PUWP in line with the 9th Congress are being carried out. Dealing with martial law, he told me there were prob- lems in the first six weeks, because of inexperience. In that period, the party organizations were weakened by attacks from Solidarity, but continued to function. Since then, he said, there has been a big extension of party work and the membership have shown great courage. Dealing with the Solidarity call for a 15-minute work stoppage on May 13, he said that only 15,000 participated —a small response by Polish standards. By May Day, it was obvious that the PUWP and the government were seriously tackling the problems of economic and social reform. This led to the joining of the official May Day demonstrations by many thousands of people supporting law and order. That prompted the nervous opposition to call for demonstrations on May 3 and 13, but the workers did not participate in any significant numbers. SECOND IN SERIES WARSAW — In an interview with Weislaw Beck, editor of Trybuna Ludu, he set out the main objectives of the newspaper of the Polish United Workers’ Party (PUWP) in this period of renovation under the umbrella of martial law. Beck said the first task is to popularize the decisions of the 9th Congress of the PUWP held in July 1981. He frankly admitted the paper did not succeed in this prior to Dec. 13, 1981 and added this was a failure of the entire party attributable to the turmoil that then existed in the country. The second task is to gain the widest possible support for the government and its policies. The third task is to assist all activities designed to pull the country out of the current crisis. Hence the major emphasis on economic questions. The fourth task is to convince its readers that the ao - — me West and, in line with this, to explain how and why the economy is being restructured. The fifth task is to give readers a truthful picture of life in other socialist countries, not superficially but in depth. The sixth task is to give more coverage to the inter- national working-class and national liberation move- ments. *‘We have to unmask the political situation in Po- land,” he told me,’* and also the political situation out- side of Poland. We are exposing the U.S. owned Radio Free Europe, criticizing and fighting with it. Prior to demonstrations in May organized by opposition forces, Radio Free Europe was broadcasting details and instruc- tions in Polish, along with the demands of Solidarity.”’ These demonstrations, I learned, were on a much smaller scale than the organizers had hoped for, witha very poor response from the industrial workers, largely as aresult of the consolidation and work of the PUWP. economic crisis resulted from over-dependence on the - A. Helping Imperialism The editor drew attention to the fact that Solidarity leaders in 1981 bitterly opposed operating the coal mines on Saturdays, when coal exports were very vital for the economy. Also, that they wanted to limit exports as much as possible. Concurrently, he said, the USA, in anticipation that coal deliveries to foreign customers would be curtailed, sent representatives to European — customers and offered to sell them American coal. In the best period before the crisis Poland extracted 204 million tonnes per year, of which 41 million tonnes were exported (1 tonnes = 1,000 kg). In 1981, production dropped to 161 million tonnes. Traditional markets in the West have been taken over by the USA, England, Australia and South Africa. Finland, Italy and Spain have switched from Poland to the USA. Now, Poland must fight to regain or replace the foreign markets it has lost. Objectively, the leaders of Solidarity were helping Western imperialism. © In dealing with martial law, Beck made some interest- ing observations. PHOTO — TRYBUNA LUDU The demonstrators were mainly students, with a large proportion of older, secondary school students. When | asked how wide the support is for martial law, he gave me the following answer: ‘It would be wrong to conclude that workers support martial law. That would be a dangerous over-simplifica- tion. What can be said is that working people support the ‘It would be wrong to conclude that workers support martial law. That would be a dangerous over-simplification. What can be said is that working people support the following elements: peace and tranquility in the country; security of citizens and the possibility of working in a quiet atmosphere. The majority of our people support these principles, some actively and some passively.’ None of the legal bodies of power was suspended. The Polish parliament has been particularly active and the government is functioning through all regularly consti- tuted organs. The decisions of the 9th Congress are being realized without any pressures and the Central Committee of the PUWP and the leading organs of the two allied parties continued to meet and function after the imposition of martial law, and conducted their business in a normal PACIFIC TRIBUNE—JULY 16, 1982—Page 6 following elements: peace and tranquility in the country; security of citizens and the possibility of working in a quiet atmosphere. The majority of our people support these principles, some actively and some passively. Church Activists “All of our activities,’’ he explained, ‘‘centre around reaching agreement with the people and the fight against those who violate socialist order.” Trybuna Ludu annually hosts a press festival. Hundreds of thousands turn out for sports competitions and cultural sho" Jack Phillips In order to reach agreement, Civic Committees fo National Redemption have been set up all over Pola y So far there is no formal structure for these commitlé’ but they are functioning. According to the editor, mate Glemp of the Catholic Church is encouraging activists to participate. Officially, priests do not P# cipate in politics in Poland. When [asked him to define the main forces oppose! the socialist renewal, he gave me a very interesting ® wer: e Trotskyite tendencies which were disclosed if leadership of KOR (Committee for the Defence of Workers) which later spread to the leadership of darity. e KPN (Confederation for an Independent Pol#! which is an illegal organization. It is nationalistic ! reactionary sense and opposes all international ag" ments and alliances with the other socialist countries # the Soviet Union in particular. e Blinded Christian Democrats while the Cath? leadership follows reasonable policies, some grass 1 Catholics would like to see a Christian Democl government. A certain coalition of these three groups has 14 place and is now supported by all people who are * posed to socialism. In his concluding remarks, the editor told me there will soon be another plenary session of the Ce#! Committee of the PUWP and that the main subjec! discussion will be the problems of young people. M’ than 50% of the people are under 35 years of age. Acc® ing to what I was told by a number of well. infor™ people, the younger generation constitutes a majo!’ cial problem for the PUWP and the government, in té of their expectations and to what extent and how t*, expectations can be fulfilled. From what I gathered, ' authorities are approaching this problem in a serious’ constructive fashion.