Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1957-03-16
POLAND
Continued From First Page

Continued From First Page
supplies were shut off-or If
compulsory deliveries by peas
ants were stopped.
If the Polish administration of
independent" Communist Wlad-
ySlaw Gomulka cannot get enough
grain reServeS-the Warsaw dele
CATION values requirements at
more than $50 million worth at
American surplus prices - il
would not be able to abandon the
centralized control OF the peas
antry.
Ending compulsory deliveries
without having reserves on hand
might force prices up. Hoard
ing probably would follow. The
whole Polish distribution Sys-
tenn might break down and the
nation could face starvation.
With sufficient grain reserves
however. Polish economists
maintain that the transition tc
relative freedom for the. peas
antry could be made.
More autonomy for individual
textile mills would involve more
stockpiling at the local level
Polish authorities hope they can
obtain cotton for that purpose
here.
The present centralized con-
troll over textile reserves permits
shifting smaller stockpile to
areas Of the greatest need. II
each mill is to have its own
stockpile. however, greater re-
serves would be required.
This is the argument Polish
economists are understood to be
putting forth in their talks with
American economic officials.
High Unemployment Denied
That there is serious unem-
ployment in the Polish textile in
dustry is denied. The only ad-
mitted unemployment problem
lis in the bureaucracy" where
supertiuous clerks of the old CEN
.tralized regime have been fired
and are now looking for work.
There have been conflicting re-
ports on how many Stalinist
Communists have been among
those relieved.
The Polish people are watch
ing the progress of talks here
closely through the Polish press.
They are reported to have great
expectations and persist in talk
ing about d half-million- dollar
opening program.
$500 Million 1-Year Request
Last week end there were re-
ports in the American press that
the Warsaw group had presented
a shopping list whose price tag
amount to about $500 million.
Neither side admits officially to
having let this information out.
But both say it is about right.
At first there was no time
period set for acquisition Of the
$500 million in aid. Then 1t was
reported this was a two-year
request.
This week end the word is
that Poland wants $500 million
for the first year alone-with the
option of taking a new look at
requirements for succeeding
years.
This checks closely with Cali
fornia Senator Knowland's bit
ter prediction last Sunday that
the two-year figure will be closer
to $500 million than to $500 mil
lion. The Republican majority
leader in the Senate is the most
vocal opponent of aid to Poland
$50 Million Limit Likely
Partly because of the unpre-
dlctable attitude of Congress-
which reacted so sharply to the
prospect of visit by Yugoslav
President Marshal Tito that the
idea was dropped--Poland cam
not hope to get more than $50
million at the outside of this trip
to Washington.
But by the new Warsaw Com
munist regimes own estimate,
this would not drive Poland
back into the arms of Moscow.
Poland has 30 per cent OF its
foreign trade with the Soviet
Union. This would not be af-
fected by any deal reached with
the United States. Embassy Of
ficials here insist.
What American negotiators
have to decide is how quickly
and effectively Poland can con-
vert its economy from the old
Stalinist rightly to a Titoist or
socialist complexion without
lrousing Moscow-and how much
gtaf IN fnA..1 Trstt