ABSTRACT
This chapter presents a collection of diplomatic documents describing Britain's relations with Eastern Europe from 1979 to 1982, with special focus on the crisis in Poland. It also presents letters written by Mr James (Warsaw) to Lord Carrington regarding Poland: the state of emergency, Lord Carrington to Sir N. Henderson on Poland: declaration of martial law, Mr Melhuish (Warsaw) to Lord Carrington regarding Martial Law in Poland I: the gathering storm, Martial Law in Poland II: the rise and fall of solidarity and Martial Law in Poland III: darkness and silence. The chapter focuses on the background brief by the East European and Soviet department for the 38th Session of the UN Human Rights Commission on the question of human rights in Czechoslovakia. It then presents the letters written by Mr Birch (Budapest) to Mr Montgomery on moves against the opposition in Hungary and Mr Cohen (Warsaw) to Mr Tebbit regarding Poland: tills are ringing.
