M . S . 1 4 5

ENGLISH ONLY NATO SECRET 7th December. 1959 WORKING PÄPER

AC/119-WP(59)119/1

COMMITTEE OF POLITICAL ADVISERS

RECENT DEVELOPMENTS IN POLAND

Note fry the Netherlards Delegation

Recent events in Poland indicate a further return to a rigid control in the political, economic and cultural field. This can he seen as a sign that the Gomulka government feels it-self well established and is no more in need of keeping the population quiet by popular measures.

2. Since the end of 1956 Gomulka has removed nearly all his opponents from the Politbureau. As a result, ideological differences of opinion cannot have played an important part in the recent reshuffle. In this connection it may be pointed out that both Cyrankiewicz and Ochab have held important positions since 1945 and cannot be regarded as moderate elements. The reshufflement of the Polish government seems to be a further step in the strengthening of controls on all aspects of life, a process which has gone on since 1956.

3. The fact-that Mr. Rosenthal, the correspondent of the New York Times, had to leave Poland throws an interesting light on this development. According to his own declaration he was compelled to leave, because he had penetrated too deeply into Polish internal affairs. It may be recalled that Mr. Rosenthal had written an article about the nomination of Lt. General WItaszewski as Deputy Chief of the General Staff. This officer had been closely associated with the Stalinist oppression pf Poland and was removed from his position in the Polish communist party after the events in 1956.

4* In the economic field the some process takes place. The campaign for "agricultural circles" shows all the character-istics of a new drive towards collectivisation. A fund has been formed by the Polish government, out of which the "agricultural circles" will get subsidies for the buying of certain items for collective use. Farmers who do not join these circles will not be given subsidies, and the Government has announced that they will have to pay their tax arrears to the last zloty. In the

DE

CLA

SSIF

IED

- PU

BLI

C D

ISC

LOSU

RE

/ D

ÉC

LASS

IFIÉ

- M

ISE

EN

LE

CT

UR

E P

UB

LIQ

UE

fATO SECRET .c/iip-wpt, )119/1

.ndustrial field the tendency is towards centralisation of plan-ling, as evidenced for example "by the nomination of the former îmbassador in Moscow, Cede, as first vice-chairman of the Central 3Ianning Commission. Production will he more strictly organized ind the wages of certain categories of workei-3 are reduced.

5. A writing on the wall is also the removal of Bienkowski is Minister of Education, and the resignation from his most impor-tant functions in the party by Morawski. They were both men-of L956 and known for their more or less liberal attitudes. The new Ainister of Education, Tulodaiecki, is a trade-unionist. In October, 1957 he was elected a member of the Council of the WFTU. [n April, I95Ö he became concurrently, secretary of the Central 3ouncil of Trade Unions In Poland.

DE

CLA

SSIF

IED

- PU

BLI

C D

ISC

LOSU

RE

/ D

ÉC

LASS

IFIÉ

- M

ISE

EN

LE

CT

UR

E P

UB

LIQ

UE