FOR MEDIA TUESDAY, 15 DECEMBER, 1981
POLAND
Cabinet today discussed recent developments-in Poland and
received a briefing from the Minister for Foreign Affairs,
the Hon. Tony Street, on his recent visit to Warsaw.
The Prime Minister said that Cabinet was seriously concerned
at developments in Poland and the possible implications of
them, both within Poland and internationally. It was difficult
to obtain a clear picture of the situation because of the clamp
down on communications within Poland and from Poland to the
outside world. As a result, the Government believes that it is
too early to reach any hard assessment of the situation but
will continue to keep the issues under very close consideration.
" Certainly the Government remains convinced of the need for the
Polish people themselves to resolve their own problems without.
outside interference or coercion", the Prime Minister said. No
country should presume to interfere in Poland's affairs at
this or ahy other time.
The Prime Minister said that the Polish crisis, which had
developed since . August 1980, continued to have the most serious
implications for international stability. The imposition of
martial law at the weekend by the Polish leadership would seem
to represent a serious new phase in the crisis.
Australia, with many other countries, sincerely hoped that these
extreme and repressive measures would so-on end and that they
would not lead to the reversal of the main elements of reform
which had been achieved in Poland in the past 17 months. In
these respects the Government noted the undertakings of the
Polish Leader, General Jaruzelski, undertakings which have
also been conveyed formally by the Polish Government to the
Australian Embassy in Warsaw. The Government also warned that
if martial law led to violence, it would arouse the indignation of
the international community and do much to negate the widesprEtad
sympathy and appreciation of Poland's political and economic
difficulties. The Prime Minister urged that there be an early
return to civil and trade union liberties and expressed the wish
that current developments should not impede the spirit of
conciliation and compromise which had hitherto characterised
the efforts of the Polish people to find their own solution to
their difficulties. / 2
2
In regard to the Polish Government's request for further
Australian economic support which was made to the Minister
for Foreign Affairs in Warsaw, Cabinet decided that until
the situation in Poland was clearer, it could not take any
decisions on this request.
Nonetheless, Cabinet was mindful of the close interrelationship
between economic recovery and the achievement of political
stability through conciliation and consensus.
A further matter considered by the Government was the question
of Polish refugees and in this regard the Minister for Immigration
and Ethnic Affairs and the Minister for Foreign Affairs will.
keep under review the implications of current developments in
Poland for Australia's policy towards Polish immigration and
refugee movement. The Government is aware of and sympathises
with the concerns of the Polish community in Australia over
the well-being of friends and relations in Poland at this
difficult time. The Government will also engage in
consultations with other Governments and particularly those of
Canada and the United States on Polish refugee questions.
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