Ease Germany
The strikes in Poland have spawned work stoppages by Polisn guest workers in East Germany. Polish workers in the port of Rostock reportedlytrike for unidentified demands^onugust; outcome is not V
HssmmmmmVsYesl
another such strike recently at
a factory in Cotthus near the Polish border, andare closely monitoring Polish workersstrikes, similar to those that occurred inresponse to riots in Poland over proposed priceapparently have not had any impact onworkers. i' t/
Soviet
Moscow yesterday signaled support for Gierek's sweeping leadership changes and his proposals to resolve the impasse between the government and the strikers.
that national
The English language service of TASS gisted Gierek's speech to the Central Committee plenum on Sunday, quoting his offer to meet the strikers "halfway" and to hold new trade union elections that are -fully- democratic, secret/ and open to candidates from the strike comuittees. Moscow's sensitivity .over the possible impact of these concessions on its ownpophlation, the Soviet do-"mestic radio report on the speech did not cover any"of these points. Both reports, however, highlighted Gierek' warning that.changes striking "at the foundations of the national and state existence" cannot be
only socialism" can safeguard Poland'
interests.
In the first Soviet commentary since theegan, TASS political ob-trver Yuri Kornilov castigated Western media reporting or. Poland as part of awar against the countries of socialism." He supported Gierek's policies by noting that the Polish leader's speech laidtrategic course" that could rectify the situation.
Kornilov did not directly mention the Westernto the Soviet Union that Moscow resumed jamming last week but clearly was seeking to justify that action. He labeled Western reporting on the events in Poland as "interference in the internal affairsovereign socialisterhaps layingoviet defense of the jamming at the November meeting in Madrid to review implementation of the Helsinki Final Act.
East Europe Reports
All of the East European countries reported the massive shakeup of the Polish leadership, butonly the Hungarians, who pride themselves on having responsive trade unions, were bold enough to play up Gierek's promise of free union elections. The East Germans reportedly provided unusual live television coverage of Gierek's speech, but avoided mention of the trade union issue in thoir written media. Romanian
w.iitedours to report the Polish developments.
Original document.
Comment about this article, ask questions, or add new information about this topic: