Debating the Participation in the Roundtable Talks
Annotation
Prior to the historic Roundtable Talks between the opposition and the communist party and state officials in Poland, negotiations occurred on many levels, as shown in this document. Not only were participants in the opposition negotiating with communist leaders, but they were also negotiating among themselves. Leaders of the opposition held numerous meetings in the fall of 1988 to discuss the structure and content of the Roundtable Talks. This report of a September 1988 meeting summarizes the discussions and negotiations that took place among members of the opposition. Participants were not always in agreement about the centrality of the legalization of Solidarity as opposed to such broader topics as economic and political reforms. Some feared that the focus on Solidarity was too narrow, while others feared that taking on numerous other reform measures would be too broad. In addition to determining the issues for the Roundtable Talks, these activists also discussed who from the opposition would participate and what topics they would present.
Text
Report on a Working Conference [of Opposition Leaders]
1 September 1988
A report from a working conference
At a meeting held on 1 September 1788, chaired by Prof. Andrzej Stelmachowski, there
was a discussion on preparations to a possible “Roundtable.” Participants in the
discussion were: B. Geremek, P. Gzartoryski, M. Krol, H. Wujec, A. Michnik, J. Kuron,
S. Grabska,40 K. Sliwinski, T. Gruszecki, R. Bugaj, J. Moskwa, A. Wielowieyski, K.
Wojcicki, H. Bortnowska, P. Grzelak.
Differences of opinion among the participants concerned mostly the degree of to
which emphasis should be placed on the [legal] registration of “Solidarity” as opposed to
the preparation of broader topics of possible future talks. Attention was drawn to the
danger of too wide a range of topics, which might water down the cause of “Solidarity.”
In this connection it has been agreed that it is necessary to prepare a detailed schedule of
negotiations, in which the question of “Solidarity” would be awarded the first place.
Another matter discussed was the status of social participants in the “Roundtable”
discussions. It has been acknowledged that it has to be precisely defined.
In the course of the meeting M. Krol submitted a report on his talk with Minister
Kiszczak, and P. Gzartoryski described the situation in Silesia.
As a result of the discussion it has been agreed:
1. The point of departure for the preparations for the talks is a document
submitted by L. Walesa on 25 August 1988, in which three major areas for talks have
been formulated: unions, pluralism of associations, and economic and political reforms;
2. The date for the meeting of the so[called Group of 60 was set for 9 October
1988 in Gdansk (still to be agreed with L. Walesa);
3. The formation of topical groups, which were to prepare papers for the Gdansk
meeting, as well as for future talks conducted by L. Walesa. The following groups have
been set up:
- a group for trade union matters (Kuron, Merkel, Malanowski, Wujec, Rosner,
Milczanowski);
- a group for economic questions (Wielowieyski, Gruszecki, Bugajawith an
invitation to G. Janowski for agricultural matters);
- a group for pluralism of associations (Geremek, Szaniawski, Paszynski,
Bratkowski and possibly M. Krolafuture systemic questions).
It has been agreed that further topical groups should be established, which would
cooperate with a group of “Solidarity” advisors. Among other things, the question of
youth and generational differences should be brought up.
The question of contacts, the press and other media was entrusted to J. Moskwa,
and the preparation of papers for discussion in Gdansk--to K. Woycicki.
[Source: Andrzej Stelmachowski Papers. Translated by Jan Chowaniec for CWIHP.]
Credits
Andrzej Stelmachowski, "Report on a Working Conference," 1 September 1988, Cold War International History Project, Documents and Papers, CWIHP (accessed May 14, 2008).