§ 23. Mr. Greenwayasked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what recent steps he has taken to persuade the Polish Government to terminate martial law in Poland.
§ Mr. RifkindI refer my hon. Friend to the statement by my right hon. Friend the Member for Spelthorne (Mr. Atkins) on 5 February. These measures were designed to persuade the Polish authorities to lift martial law, release those detained and resume a genuine dialogue with the Church and Solidarity. The demonstrations in Poland over the weekend are further evidence that the continuation of martial law is unacceptable to the Polish people. We are continuing to make our views clear to the Polish authorities whenever appropriate opportunities arise.
§ Mr. GreenwayMay I thank my right hon. Friend for his reply and underline his recognition of the fact that the Polish people showed their distress at the appalling situation imposed on them by the Jaruzelski regime over the weekend? Will the Government continue to do everything possible to make the Polish regime lift martial law and to set the Polish people free once more?
§ Mr. RifkindMy hon. Friend is correct. Last week the Polish Government announced the release of some detainees and some relaxation in the conditions of martial law. However, my hon. Friend and the House will have noticed that only yesterday aspects of martial law were reintroduced, which must be a matter of great concern to the people of Poland and to the West. We shall take every opportunity to impress upon the Polish Government our concern that a genuine dialogue should be reintroduced and that martial law should be removed.
§ Mr. George RobertsonWill the Minister accept that few of those who saw the television pictures showing the military action taken against the civilian demonstrators in Poland over the weekend were anything other than horrified? Despite the Government's preoccupation with other matters, will they ensure that the views of the British people are fairly reflected and that the Polish Government understand our outrage?
§ Mr. RifkindThe hon. Gentleman is correct. The large number of people who turned out to demonstrate on the streets of Warsaw on May Day showed the strong support that Solidarity retains. Only last week I met the Polish ambassador to the United Kingdom and impressed on him the fact that the British Government saw the removal of martial law, the beginning of a dialogue with the Polish people and the release of all detainees as necessary preconditions to the resumption of full and normal relations between this country and Poland.
§ Dr. MawhinneyIs my hon. Friend aware that many, if not all, of those of Polish descent who live in this country are unable to telephone their relatives in Poland? Will he make representations to the Polish Government to have the telephone link re-established?
§ Mr. RifkindWe shall certainly do all in our power to enable those in the United Kingdom who wish to maintain contact with friends or relatives in Poland to do so. My hon. Friend will know that the matter is ultimately within the control of the Polish authorities.