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POLANDi Religious Leader's Illi.*sa
Cardinal Wyszynski ia raportad to ba terminally HI. Bia death willrofound effect on all Poles and will alto affect the moderating role the Church hae played duringmonth crisis. There hae been no eianifioant change in the statue of Warsaw Pact foroee in and around Poland. TJte Soviets have en: in more criticism of the Polish party leadership.
A priest In the Cardinal's office told
yesterday that although Wyszynski ls still able to move around and is lucid, his doctors are convinced thac he may have no more than two months to live. Wyszynski probably is sufferingastrointestinal malignancy that has spread, ssfl mV
eath willobering effect on all Polos and could temporarily push political issues into the background. He has played an importantrole in the Polish crisis primarily because of his personal prestige and authority as the man who headed the Church for ovorears, sjsj
The Cardinal has close ties with Solidarity leader Walesa and has been effective in urging caution on the new union. No successor can fill his shoes in thisin tho short term, fffj
As it searchesow leader, the Church mayess visible public role in trying to lessen tension betwaen Solidarity and tna government. The selectionuccessor also may bring forward thewithin the Church hierarchy about what the Church's role should be. s-
Soroe bishops have criticized Wysyznski for being too moderate end taking the regime's side too often. They wouldore forthright stand in favor of Solidarity. Although Church leaders will try tounity on such questions, this will be more difficult without the Cardinal. sses
Approvod tor
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Under Polish law, the regime hasight to veto the Church's candidate to succeed Wyszynski. The Church probably isairly good position, however, to have its choice accepted. Government leaders are aware of their own weakness and lack of standing with the They also realize that tension would increase quickly if they appeared to be stalling on the issue. MM
Military Situation
Soviet troop rotation continues and all available
Soviet Criticism
A public lecture on the Polish situation on Sunday in Leningrad indicates that despite two officialof confidence in the Polish leadership in tha past week, there istrong Soviet belief that solutions to Poland's fundamental problems are further away than ever. MM
Such foreign affairs lectures usually deal more frankly with issues than do the Soviet media, and the speaker's comments reflect party evidence. He contended that the Polish party was split by calls from below for reform and was thus hindered from taking decisive action against unrest. The speaker cited public criticism of the party leadership by the rank and file early this montheeting attended by party leader Kania as proof of how low the party's "ideological readiness" had sunk. MM
In an especially serious charge, the lecturer asserted that the Polish party had lost control over the media and that the Soviet press rarely quoted the Polish party organ because it publishes "antisocialist
material," He also said that Solidarity was infiltrating and heavily influencing the party,e government, and even the military, wm
The speaker's only favorable remarks were about Polish Politburo hardliners Olszowski and Grabski. In contrast to his implicit criticism of Kania, he called them supporters of "decisive measures." fff/
Politburo member Chernsnko, in his commentson the Polish internal situation, declared that "any deviation from Marxism-Leninism" has to be paid for dearly. Chernenko's statements were much less positive than those made by President Brezhnev at the Czechoslovak party congress and by propaganda chief zamyatin on Sunday. They were, however, similar to Politburo member Suslov's remarks at the East German party congress.
Original document.
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