ABSTRACT
In pessimistic, Poland, everybody said that Jaruzelski might give his “party” but that no one would come. As a matter of fact, on Dec. 6, the meeting nobody believed would ever happen—did happen. General Wojciech Jaruzelski’s long-yearned for consultative council, a group designed to bridge the chasms between the unpopular rulers and the powerless people, met with fifty independents, Catholics, and even former Solidarity leaders present with the government. The second harbinger of change occurred this year when many of the committees, commissions, joint councils, etc. that the Jaruzelski government has created to try to restructure this amorphous country gustily turned down an important government draft for twelve new laws. “The party formulated proposals in writing and sent them to groups all over the country for their expressions. Thus, the new program was worked out. This former editor of the important magazine Polytica smiled.
