§ Mr. WilshireTo ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will make a statement on the conclusion of the round table talks in Poland.
§ Mr. WaldegraveI think that we have all watched events in Poland with fascination in recent weeks.
The round table itself deserves a place in history. We, and others in the West, now hope to see its proposals on political reform put into practice, to the benefit of the Polish people and the whole of Europe. We trust this will be done in such a way that there can be no question of a reversal.
Forty-four years ago at Yalta, the three powers called for free and unfettered elections in Poland. Such elections were never held. Now, for the first time in post-war Poland, we have the prospect of elections in which an opposition has a real chance to participate. This is a remarkable step forward. There is still far to go before the hopes of Yalta can be realised. But let us hope that the forthcoming elections will prepare the way.
Poland still has many problems to confront. The round table produced mainly generalities on economic policy. The Polish authorities and opposition will need to continue to work together to translate these generalities into practical policies. They need to agree an economic adjustment programme which can in due course secure the approval of the international community and financial institutions.
There is a great will here for Poland to succeed. The Government are already spending considerably increased sums to help the Poles help themselves, for example, by providing more training and scholarships. We shall certainly be looking seriously and urgently at other practical, carefully targeted ways of helping the Poles fulfil the hopes for political and economic advance that the round table agreement has raised.