June 4, 1986
U.S. Reportedly Knew Of Poland's Plans in '81
AP
WASHINGTON, Wednesday, June 4 -- A Polish official notified the United States in advance of the 1981 crackdown on the Solidarity union, according to a published report.
Informed sources familiar with United States intelligence reports said the official, Col. Wladyslaw Kuklinski, a senior Polish staff officer, had been a longtime source of information, The Washington Post reported today.
After a Soviet official warned the Polish Government in November 1981 that plans for the crackdown had been disclosed to the United States, Colonel Kuklinski and his family were brought to the West by the Central Intelligence Agency, The Post reported. They now live in the United States under new identities, the newspaper said.
According to The Post, the Polish Government spokesman, Jerzy Urban, said the United States could have prevented the imposition of martial law by making the plan public.
But American sources said Colonel Kuklinski had been unable to provide the date-December 13, 1981-on which martial law was to be imposed.