VARIOUS: Western Europe shows great concern at events in Poland since the imposition of martial law

Record ID: 862023

  • Title: VARIOUS: Western Europe shows great concern at events in Poland since the imposition of martial law
  • Date: 16th December 1981
  • Summary: LONDON, UNITED KINGDOM (VISNEWS - KEN HARDING) *QUALITY AS INCOMING* UK: CU Lord Carrington, British Foreign Secretary speaking
  • Embargoed: 31st December 1981 12:00
  • Keywords:
  • Location: Vatican City State, France, United Kingdom
  • City:
  • Country: United Kingdom France Vatican City State
  • Topics: International Relations,Politics
  • Reuters ID: LVA8PIUC8UMOAZEZPB0XHLHINJEC
  • Aspect Ratio:
  • Story Text: PARIS, FRANCE; LONDON, UK AND THE VATICAN

    INTRODUCTION: The imposition of martial law in Poland has caused great concern in Western Europe and also in the Vatican where the Pope issued a plea for a return to sanity in his homeland on Wednesday (16 December). In France President Francois Mitterrand strongly condemned what he called the loss of public and individual freedoms in Poland. The French government also issued an unconfirmed, report about casualties in Poland since the state of emergency was announced there on Sunday (13 December).

    SYNOPSIS: HOLD SOUND: CUE AT 0.03
    The Polish Ambassador in Paris, M. Eugenensz Kulaga, declined to comment on measures taken by the military in his country in enforcing the states of emergency. Speaking on French television, the ambassador would not say whether martial law was an alternative to intervention by the Soviet Union. M. Kulaga insisted that the Polish authorities had the situation in his country under control and that they could resolve the current problems. He added that Poland's priority was a revival of the country's economy.

    The French Prime Minister, M. Pierre Mauroy, speaking in the National Assembly spoke of the need to keep calm and not to make any comment likely to worsen the situation. However later on Wednesday (16 December) evening, M. Mauroy, citing diplomatic reports reaching the French capital , said that nine people had been killed and some 45,000 arrested since Sunday's (13 December) military takeover in Poland. In London, the British Foreign Secretary, Lord Carrington, hoped that force would be avoided.

    At the Vatican a large crowd, some with Polish flags, gathered to hear Pope John Paul make his most outspoken comments so far about martial law in his homeland. He firmly underlined the right of all Poles to determine their own future and warned Poland's military rulers against the use of violence. He voiced his appeal carefully to avoid any direct attack on the Warsaw authorities but urged those in power to find a solution through dialogue and not by force. Looking tired but calm the Pontiff shook hundreds of hands as he slowly made his way down the Vatican's huge Audience Hall. His message will be taken home by the Polish pilgrims there if they can get back into the country.

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