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Toast at State Dinner in Poland 7/10/89 [OA 6266]
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Toast at State Dinner in Poland 7/10/89 [OA 6266]
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26
19
2
3
(McNally/Simon)
June 25, 1989, 6:30 p.m.
Draft One (TOAST)
PRESIDENTIAL REMARKS: TOAST AT THE STATE DINNER IN POLAND
RADZIWILL PALACE, WARSAW
MONDAY, JULY 10, 1989, 7:55 P.M.
8:00
Mr. President, Mr. Prime Minister, Members of the Polish
delegation -- thank you for your hospitality tonight, and
throughout our stay. We are very pleased and honored to be here.
As has been true since the beginnings of our history -- and
as with the American people we are here to represent -- I have a
special interest in Poland. And in recent months we have watched
some remarkable events unfold in your country.
And so this is not an ordinary visit -- for in Poland these
are not ordinary times.
9/87
X
When I was last here, almost two years ago, our relations
had just emerged from a long, chilly period. But -- beginning
with that visit -- we have made fast progress. In our 1987
meetings with President Jaruzelski, we covered many issues --
cultural, commercial, consular, scientific, communications,
counterterrorism, human rights and others. And -- on virtually
every issue -- both governments have made concrete progress.
Mr. President, the rewards for successful effort are, as
always, more and greater challenges. Poland is entering a new
era. It is beginning once again to command its own history.
Polish energy and creativity are being tapped. Great steps have
been taken already -- the negotiation of the remarkable
2
Roundtable accords, the legalization of Solidarity, the holding
of fair elections, the restoration of a freely-elected Polish
Senate. And more steps await on the road ahead.
Poland has surpassed the expectations even of its friends.
And we respect you for it.
Reform is a difficult process, as you well know. There are
neither easy answers, nor cost-free solutions. But there is a
sound basis for hope. Poland has a well-trained labor force, and
enormous agricultural potential. Both could perform well if
given sufficient incentives. And today, you have the goodwill of
an expectant and hopeful world.
Ultimately, Poland's responsibility for its economic reform
and recovery places a special burden on Poles of all political
views -- to work together honestly, and seriously. It will be
hard. But I believe you will succeed. And I believe Poland can
fulfill the promise of the Roundtable accords, and negotiation of
democratic reform. That is the destiny of the Polish people.
And it is the destiny of the American people to stand with you.
Tomorrow marks the birthday of an American patriot,
President John Quincy Adams. In 1821, during his service as
Secretary of State, he spoke of America's role overseas:
"Wherever the standard of freedom and independence has been,
see
or shall be, unfurled -- there will America's heart, her
file
benedictions, and prayers be. [[PAUSE]] But she goes not abroad
in search of monsters to destroy. She is the well-wisher to the
freedom and independence of all. She is the champion and the
vindicator only of her own. "
3
Our message here today reflects Adams's sentiments. We want
Poland to succeed in this historic effort. And we will stand
with you and help as best we can. We have outlined for you ways
in which the United States can help Poland help itself. Both our
governments have a great deal of work to do.
My government will continue to move ahead with prudence and
realism -- and with our eyes on the great tasks that lie ahead.
Our hearts -- as always -- will remain filled with the abiding
commitment the American people feel for this land and her people.
You know, over the past two years the American people have
celebrated the 200th anniversary of perhaps the most important
landmark in our history -- the signing and ratification of the
U.S. Constitution. And yet, not every American knows that a
Enclopedia short time later - - on May 3, 1791 -- the first written
Brittanica
constitution in Europe, and the second in the world, was adopted
see
file
by the Polish Parliament. It stands with our Constitution as a
founding charter of Western liberty.
And today, I believe the spirit that produced the 3rd May
Constitution lives on in Warsaw, in Krakow, in Gdansk. And my
wish for you is that -- two years from now, on the bicentennial
of your constitution -- the Polish people will have the kind of
reforms in place that a people with your proud heritage deserve.
Mr. President, Mr. Prime Minister --
Let us lift our glasses to the progress in relations we have
made -- and to our determination to proceed on an ever-ascending
path, toward better days and great achievements still to come.
McNAlly
PRESIDENT'S TOAST AT THE STATE DINNER
July 10, 1989
MR. PRESIDENT, MR. PRIME MINISTER, MEMBERS OF THE POLISH
DELEGATION, I APPRECIATE YOUR HOSPITALITY TONIGHT AND
THROUGHOUT MY STAY. I AM ESPECIALLY PLEASED TO BE HERE NOW,
BOTH BECAUSE I HAVE A SPECIAL INTEREST IN POLAND AND BECAUSE I
HAVE WATCHED SOME REMARKABLE EVENTS TAKING PLACE IN YOUR
COUNTRY.
THIS IS THE FIRST VISIT OF A U.S. PRESIDENT TO POLAND IN
ALMOST TWELVE YEARS. IT IS NOT AN ORDINARY VISIT, FOR THESE
ARE NOT ORDINARY TIMES FOR POLAND. WHEN I WAS LAST HERE, IN
SEPTEMBER 1987, U.S.-POLISH RELATIONS HAD JUST EMERGED FROM A
LONG, CHILLY PERIOD.
OUR RELATIONS HAVE PROGRESSED VERY QUICKLY SINCE THEN.
PRESIDENT JARUZELSKI AND I COVERED A LOT OF ISSUES IN OUR
MEETINGS IN 1987 -- CULTURAL, COMMERCIAL, CONSULAR, SCIENTIFIC,
COMMUNICATION, COUNTERTERRORISM, HUMAN RIGHTS AND OTHERS -- AND
ON VIRTUALLY EVERY ISSUE BOTH GOVERNMENTS HAVE MADE CONCRETE
PROGRESS SINCE.
MR. PRESIDENT, THE REWARDS FOR SUCCESSFUL EFFORT ARE, AS
ALWAYS, MORE AND GREATER CHALLENGES. I RECALL THAT AS OUR
GOVERNMENTS PICKED UP THE PACE OF OFFICIAL DIALOGUE, THE POLISH
SIDE RAISED THE QUESTION OF SOMEHOW PROCEEDING TO A NEW
STAGE OF RELATIONS. I THINK IT IS CLEAR THAT LIFE ITSELF HAS
BROUGHT RELATIONS BETWEEN THE UNITED STATES AND POLAND, AND
BETWEEN THE AMERICAN AND POLISH PEOPLES, TO A NEW AND
CHALLENGING STAGE.
POLAND IS ENTERING A NEW ERA. IT IS BEGINNING ONCE AGAIN
TO COMMAND ITS OWN HISTORY. POLISH ENERGY AND CREATIVITY ARE
BEING TAPPED. GREAT STEPS HAVE BEEN TAKEN ALREADY -- THE
NEGOTIATION OF THE REMARKABLE ROUNDTABLE ACCORDS, THE
LEGALIZATION OF SOLIDARITY, THE HOLDING OF FAIR ELECTIONS, THE
RESTORATION OF A FREELY-ELECTED POLISH SENATE -- AND MORE STEPS
WILL BE TAKEN ON THE ROAD AHEAD.
POLAND HAS SURPASSED THE EXPECTATIONS EVEN OF ITS FRIENDS.
AND WE RESPECT YOU FOR IT.
REFORM IS A DIFFICULT PROCESS, AS YOU WELL KNOW. THERE ARE
NEITHER EASY ANSWERS NOR COST-FREE SOLUTIONS. POLAND'S
RESPONSIBILITY FOR ITS ECONOMIC REFORM AND RECOVERY PLACES A
SPECIAL BURDEN ON POLES OF ALL POLITICAL VIEWS TO WORK TOGETHER
HONESTLY AND SERIOUSLY.
IT IS HARD. BUT POLAND CAN NOW BEGIN TO LOOK TO A FUTURE
OF HOPE, FOR THE FIRST TIME IN A LONG TIME, AND NOT RETURN TO
THE PATTERN OF DESPAIR.
I BELIEVE YOU WILL SUCCEED. I BELIEVE POLAND CAN FULFILL
THE PROMISE OF THE ROUNDTABLE ACCORDS, AND NEGOTIATION OF
DEMOCRATIC REFORM. I BELIEVE THE SPIRIT THAT PRODUCED THAT
CONSTITUTION OF MAY 3, 1791, A DOCUMENT CONTEMPORARY WITH OUR
OWN CONSTITUTION AS A FOUNDING CHARTER OF WESTERN LIBERTY,
LIVES ON IN WARSAW, IN KRAKOW, IN GDANSK.
POLAND DOES NOT STAND ALONE IN THIS HISTORIC EFFORT. WE
WANT POLAND TO SUCCEED. WE WILL STAND WITH YOU AND HELP AS
BEST WE CAN. I HAVE OUTLINED FOR YOU WAYS IN WHICH THE UNITED
STATES CAN HELP POLAND HELP ITSELF. BOTH OUR GOVERNMENTS HAVE
A GOOD DEAL OF WORK TO DO.
MY GOVERNMENT WILL PROCEED FORWARD WITH PRUDENCE AND
REALISM, AS WE HAVE DONE so FAR, BUT WITH OUR EYES ON THE GREAT
TASKS THAT LIE AHEAD. OUR HEARTS, AS ALWAYS, WILL REMAIN
FILLED WITH THE ABIDING COMMITMENT THE AMERICAN PEOPLE FEEL FOR
POLAND AND THE POLISH PEOPLE.
MR. PRESIDENT, MR. PRIME MINISTER, LET US LIFT OUR GLASSES
TO THE PROGRESS IN RELATIONS WE HAVE MADE, AND TO OUR
DETERMINATION TO PROCEED ON AN EVER ASCENDING PATH TOWARD
BETTER DAYS AND GREAT ACHIEVEMENTS STILL TO COME.
646
Poland, History of
Encyclopedia
Buttanica
tus II the pretext to start the war. Then the Tsar turned
name of the Russian empress, demanded absolute religious
east and put down the last Cossack rebellion in the Polish
and political equality with the Catholic population of
Ukraine (1702-04), which the Polish Sejm had provoked
Poland. He was well aware that an aristocratic and
by despotically deciding to disband the Cossacks in 1699.
Catholic assembly like the Sejm would never concede such
The Prussian situation. The Hohenzollern prince Fred-
a demand.
erick III had assumed the title of king of Prussia in 1701,
Early in 1767 a confederation was formed at Repnin's
with consent of Augustus but without the approval of
instigation to send a deputation to Catherine, petitioning
the republic, which alone had the power to grant this
her to guarantee the liberties of the republic. Subsequent-
title. In 1715 King Frederick Willaim I tried to acquire
ly, but not without a stubborn resistance, the Sejm accept-
the Polish Prussian territory, again with the approval of
ed Catherine's authority, and the so-called fundamental
Augustus. The intervention of Peter the Great, who resid-
laws were enacted, guaranteeing the liberum veto and all
ed in Gdańsk at the time, frustrated this attempt in 1716,
the other ancient abuses as unalterable parts of a Polish
and the Russian troops remained in control of the south-
constitution ensured by Russia. All the restrictions against
ern coast of the Baltic Sea. Peter the Great thus assumed
the dissidents were repealed at the same time.
the role of protector of the territorial integrity of the
Confederation of Bar. These events led to a Catholic
Polish republic. From then on, Poland was to all intents
uprising known as the Confederation of Bar, aided by the
and purposes a protectorate of the Russian government,
Turks. After four years of fighting (1768-72), the Rus-
and this relationship lasted until the dissolution of the
sian troops were able to gain the upper hand over the
republic in 1795.
confederates. Frederick II of Prussia tried to use this civil
Augustus III, 1733-63. The French-supported candi-
war to achieve a partition of Poland, but he met with the
date, Stanislaw Leszczyński, was elected king for the sec-
resistance of Catherine II. Only the threat of Austrian
ond time after the death of Augustus II in 1733. The
troops advancing against Russia and the Austrian annex-
Russian and Saxonian armies interfered, however, forc-
ation of some Polish territory in the Carpathian Moun-
ing the election of his opponent, Augustus III, the son of
tains (1770) forced Catherine to seek help from the Prus-
Augustus II. It was in his reign that Prussia definitely and
sian king on his terms-namely, the partition of Poland.
conclusively achieved the position of a European power
First Partition, 1772. With the First Partition of Po-
under its king, Frederick II the Great (1740-86). He
land in 1772, the republic lost about 28 percent of its
annexed Silesia between 1740 and 1745, securing control
territory, the Livonian and White Ruthenian regions
of the western boundaries of Poland as well as of Polish
north of the Dvina River and east of the Druć River
foreign trade at the points where it was shipped overland
falling to Russia. Austria received Little Poland south of
to central and western Europe. Inhabited mainly by
the Vistula River and almost all of the Red Ruthenian
Poles, the southeastern half of Silesia still retained close
territory under the name of the Kingdom of Galicia.
political and cultural ties with Poland, but the Prussian
Prussia obtained the smallest but most valuable property,
annexation ended the church sovereignty of the metro-
namely, Royal Prussia, comprising Warmia (Ermland)
politanate of Gniezno over Silesia.
and a part of Great Poland on both sides of the Noteć
The Seven Years' War. During the Seven Years' War
River, though without the cities of Gdańsk and Toruń.
(q.v.; 1756-63), the Russian army used the territories of
Through this annexation Prussia had not only acquired the
Gdańsk, Toruń, and Poznań as operational bases in their
desired land connection between Western Pomerania and
war against Prussia. Frederick II ordered the counterfeit-
East Prussia that it had tried to secure for almost 120
ing of Polish money, a measure that severely damaged
years, but it had also gained control over approximately
Prussian
and inflated the monetary system of the republic.
four-fifths of the total foreign trade of Poland. By levying
control
of
Social, religious, and political change. During the long
enormous custom duties on the Polish foreign trade going
foreign
and peaceful era between 1716 and 1768, the popula-
via this route, Prussia made this its most important
trade
Population
tion grew rapidly, due to both the steady immigration of
source of income. In fact, the partition of Poland was of
growth
Germans and the mass exodus of an enslaved peasantry
vital importance to Prussia, for it was now able to shake
from Russia. By 1772 Poland's population numbered ap-
off the last vestiges of the old Polish sovereign rights. The
proximately 11,420,000. Comprising more than one-half
treaty of 1773 established the full and complete sover-
of all the Jews in the world, the Jewish population of
eignty of Prussia over its lands.
Poland lived in all parts of the country. The Counter-Re-
The period of reform. The shock of the First Partition
formation reached its zenith under the spiritual leadership
caused political and economic reforms in Poland-as far
of the Jesuits, who trained 20,000 students of noble birth
as Russia would permit. The taxation system and the
annually in their 51 greater colleges and other education-
army were thoroughly reorganized, and with the Perma-
al institutions. In 1717 and 1733, laws were passed that
nent Council, in 1775, Poland installed its first real cen-
restricted the spiritual and secular rights of the dissident
tral government. Many landed estate owners carried out
(non-Catholic) population. Popular education fell to its
individual peasant emancipations, and almost 200,000
lowest level. Spreading through all the other parts of
Germans and at least 300,000 Russians emigrated to Po-
Europe, the Age of Reason affected Poland only by virtue
land, a land that was considered free. Slowly, the cities
of some individual achievements. Parliamentary life came
began to flourish again, and the beginnings of an indus-
to an almost complete standstill. Under the reign of
trial revolution could be observed with the rise in mining
Augustus II only four of a total of 13 sejms came to an
activities, the advances of the textile industry, the found-
orderly conclusion; under Augustus III only one out of
ing of the first joint-stock companies, and the employ-
13 did so, as the result of the use of the liberum veto.
ment of the first machine equipment. Polish intellectual
pursuit and reasoning received fresh impetus when the
REFORM AND PARTITION DURING THE REIGN
Age of Reason was finally accepted. The King promoted
OF STANISLAW II AUGUSTUS PONIATOWSKI, 1764-95
the political theories of such men as Edmund Burke and
A former diplomat, Stanislaw II August Poniatowski
George Washington, while the educated Poles advanced
gained the crown of Poland with the help of Russian
the political theories of Montesquieu and Rousseau. But
troops in 1764. Aided by his relatives, the Czartoryski, he
whatever the theory, the concept of modern democracy,
tried to introduce political reforms, among other things
including all ranks and classes of society, quickly became
the temporary abolition of the liberum veto in 1764-66,
established in Poland. The first governmental department
Improve
but his plans failed because of the objections of Catherine
for public education in Europe was established in con-
ments
II the Great, the Russian empress. Taking advantage of
junction with the appointment of an education commis-
education
Interven-
the religious quarrels in Poland, the Empress sent Prince
sion in Poland in 1773. Its task was the reorganization
tion by
Nikolai V. Repnin as Russian minister to Warsaw with
of the universities of Cracow and Wilno, as well as the
Catherine
instructions that led to further discord in Polish affairs.
supervision of approximately 80 gymnasiums. The print-
the Great
Of Poland's population of 11,500,000, about 1,000,000
ing of books and the publication of magazines and jour-
of Russia
were dissidents, one-half Protestant and one-half Ortho-
nals also flourished.
dox. For these people, who had been largely deprived of
The Constitution of May 3, 1791. The first codified
their rights by the laws of 1717 and 1773, Repnin, in the
constitution in Europe since antiquity and the second in
Poland, History of
647
RUSSIAN EMPIRE
SWEDEN
Riga
Libawa (Libava)
Livgnia
Mitawa
(Mitava)
Dyina
BALTIC
Dyneburg (Dvinsk)
SEA
Połock
Witebsk
Tauroggen
(Polotsk)
(Vitebsk),
Gaansk
Kowno (Kovno)
Dnieper
(Danzig)
Königsberg
Wilno
EAST PRUSSIA
(Vilno)
WHITE
EASTERN
WEST
Mscislaw
POMERANIA
PRUSSIA
Olsztyn
NEW
(Allenstein)
Minsk
Mohylew
(Mstislavl)
Grodno
Cheim
EAST
(Mogilev)
PRUSSIA
Wolkowysk
RUTHENIA
Notec
Działdowo
(Volkovysk)
GREAT
Torun
(Soldau)
Narew
*Biarystok
Bobruisk
Gniezno (Gnesen)
(Thorn)
MAZOVIA
POLAND
Homel
(Gomel)
Poznań
Plock
(Posen)
POLAND
Plotsk)
Drohiczyn
Brześć Litewski
Pinsk
Warsaw
Pripet
Brest Litovsk)
SOUTH PRUSSIA
Marshes
Códz
Pilice
x
Maciejowice
Wielun
Rawa
(Rava)
WEST GALICIA
Kowel
Oder
Czestochowa
Lublin
RUSSIAN
SILESIA
(Kovel)
(Tschenstochau)
LITTLE
Korosten
NEW
POLAND
Kiev
SILESIA
Vistula
Zamość
EMPIRE
Luck
Žytomierz
(Zamostye)
(Lutsk)
(Zhitomir)
KINGDOM OF GALICIA
Cracow
Tarnów
AUSTRIA
Przemysl
Lwów (Lvov)
Tarnopol (Ternopol)
Winnica (Vinniki)
UNIVERSITY
RED RUTHENIA
HUNGARY
Baha
Yuzhnyy
FIRST PARTITION.
SECOND PARTITION.
THIRD PARTITION.
OTTOMAN
1772
1793
1795
Lands arinexed by:
Lands annexed by:
Lands annexed by:
EMPIRE
Prussian
Austria
Prussia
Austria
control of
Prussia
Russia
Prussia
foreign
0
50
100mi
BLACK SEA
trade
Russia
Russia
0
50
100
150km
The partitions of Poland, 1772-95.
the world after the United States, the new Polish constitu-
Little Poland, including Cracow, and Prussia received the
tion passed by the "Four Years Sejm" embodied the fol-
remaining lands, including Warsaw. Stanislaw II abdicat-
lowing ideas: first, the precept of a "people's sovereign-
ed officially in 1795. For all official purposes, at least, this
ty," which included the nobility as well as the metropol-
was the end of the Republic of Poland, which was eradi-
itan bourgeoisie; second, the constitutional separation of
cated from the map of Europe for the next 123 years.
powers between the executive, legislature, and judiciary;
and third, the responsibility of the cabinet to parliament.
III. Poland under partition, 1795-1914
The liberum veto and all the obstructive machinery of the
FOREIGN RULE AND THE DUCHY OF WARSAW, 1795-1815
anomalous old system were abolished. According to its
The Russian sector. With the Third Partition of Po-
own rules, this constitution had to be revised after 25
land in 1795, the largest part of the territory fell to
years at the latest. But Catherine II considered such a
Russia. Officially, Catherine II called these partitions a
constitution dangerous to the existence and continuation of
return of Russian territory, even though such a claim
her own autocratic governmental system; she therefore
dated back 450 years. Proclaiming the unity of all Rus-
ordered her troops to invade Poland in 1792, and the
sians, the largest part of the Uniate Church returned to
reforms were destroyed by force.
the fold of the Eastern Orthodox faith. In spite of this,
The Second and Third Partitions. The Russo-Prussian
the Polish constitution and culture remained fairly unaf-
treaty of 1793 (the Second Partition) placed almost
fected at first in these "Russian" parts, where at least
all the Red Ruthenian and White Ruthenian lands under
1,800,000 Poles, including over 640,000 nobles, still held
Russian rule, while Prussia received Gdańsk, Toruń,
positions of influence. Because Russia's level of civiliza-
Great Poland, and part of Mazovia. The reaction was
tion was still extremely low under the reign of the tsars
inevitable, and in 1794 a general popular insurrection
Paul I (1796-1801) and Alexander I (1801-25), the
broke out under the leadership of Tadeusz Kościusz-
government was unable to administer the area without
ko against this latest Russo-Prussian humiliation. Kos-
Polish help. The land had been divided into eight govern-
Improve
ciuszko achieved a partial liberation of the peasant class
mental units in 1801; and since the Poles retained basic
ments
and began a general armament of the people, mobilizing
administrative control, the municipal rights, control of
education
more than 150,000 men. At first the Polish forces were
the Polish county courts and of the Polish Sejm re-
almost universally successful; but ultimately Kościuszko
mained in force for a number of years (1796-1831). An
was defeated b. the Russian troops under Aleksandr Su-
added factor was that this region had the highest standard
vorov at the Battle of Maciejowice, and Warsaw capitu-
of civilization, culture, and education within the realm of
lated at the end of 1794. Now Russia and Austria-joined
the Russian Empire-with the exception of the Baltic Sea
later also by Prussia-agreed to the Third Partition of
provinces-and the fundamental principles of the Rus-
Poland in 1795. Russia annexed the entire territory east
sian educational system were based on the essential fea-
of the Niemen and Bug rivers, Austria took almost all of
tures of the Polish educational institutions of this region.
BOB FINAL
REMARKS: TOAST AT THE STATE DINNER IN POLAND
RADZIWILL PALACE, WARSAW
MONDAY, JULY 10, 1989, 7:55 P.M.
MR. CHAIRMAN, MR. PRIME MINISTER, MEMBERS OF THE
POLISH DELEGATION -- THANK YOU FOR YOUR HOSPITALITY
TONIGHT, AND THROUGHOUT OUR STAY. WE ARE VERY PLEASED
AND HONORED TO BE HERE.
- 2 -
THE AMERICAN PEOPLE HAVE A SPECIAL AND ENDURING
INTEREST IN POLAND. AND IN RECENT MONTHS WE HAVE
WATCHED REMARKABLE EVENTS UNFOLD HERE.
AND so THIS IS NOT AN ORDINARY VISIT -- FOR IN
POLAND THESE ARE NOT ORDINARY TIMES.
WHEN I WAS LAST HERE, ALMOST TWO YEARS AGO, OUR
RELATIONS HAD JUST EMERGED FROM A LONG, CHILLY PERIOD.
- 3 -
BUT WE HAVE MADE GREAT PROGRESS, AND COVERED MANY
ISSUES -- CULTURAL, COMMERCIAL, CONSULAR, SCIENTIFIC,
COMMUNICATIONS, HUMAN RIGHTS AND OTHERS.
MR. CHAIRMAN, THE REWARDS FOR SUCCESSFUL EFFORT
ARE, AS ALWAYS, MORE AND GREATER CHALLENGES. POLAND IS
ENTERING A NEW ERA. IT IS BEGINNING ONCE AGAIN TO
COMMAND ITS OWN DESTINY. POLISH ENERGY AND CREATIVITY
ARE BEING TAPPED.
- 4 -
GREAT STEPS HAVE BEEN TAKEN ALREADY - -- THE REMARKABLE
ROUNDTABLE ACCORDS, SOLIDARITY'S LEGALIZATION, THE
HOLDING OF FAIR ELECTIONS, THE RESTORATION OF A FREELY-
ELECTED POLISH SENATE. AND MORE STEPS AWAIT ON THE
ROAD AHEAD.
POLAND HAS SURPASSED ALL EXPECTATIONS. AND WE
RESPECT YOU FOR IT.
REFORM IS A DIFFICULT PROCESS, AS YOU WELL KNOW.
- 5 -
THERE ARE NEITHER EASY ANSWERS, NOR COST-FREE
SOLUTIONS. BUT THERE IS A SOUND BASIS FOR HOPE. AND
TODAY, YOU HAVE THE GOODWILL OF AN EXPECTANT AND
HOPEFUL WORLD.
WE SEE HOPE, NOT ONLY FOR A NEW BEGINNING IN POLAND
BUT FOR THE BEGINNING OF EUROPE'S RECONCILIATION, FOR
MAKING EUROPE WHOLE AND FREE AND AT PEACE WITH ITSELF.
- 6 -
WE WANT POLAND TO SUCCEED IN THIS HISTORIC EFFORT.
AND WE HAVE OUTLINED FOR YOU WAYS IN WHICH THE UNITED
STATES CAN HELP POLAND HELP ITSELF. BOTH OUR
GOVERNMENTS HAVE A GREAT DEAL OF WORK TO DO.
OUR HEARTS -- AS ALWAYS -- WILL BE FILLED WITH THE
ABIDING COMMITMENT THE AMERICAN PEOPLE FEEL FOR THIS
LAND AND HER PEOPLE.
- 7 -
You KNOW, OVER THE PAST TWO YEARS WE HAVE
CELEBRATED THE 200TH ANNIVERSARY OF THE U.S.
CONSTITUTION. AND YET, NOT EVERY AMERICAN KNOWS THAT A
SHORT TIME LATER -- THE WORLD'S SECOND WRITTEN
CONSTITUTION WAS ADOPTED BY THE POLISH PARLIAMENT.
AND TODAY, I BELIEVE THE SPIRIT THAT PRODUCED THE
3RD MAY CONSTITUTION LIVES ON IN WARSAW, IN KRAKOW
(KRA-Kov), IN GDANSK.
- 8 -
AND MY WISH FOR YOU IS THAT TWO YEARS FROM NOW, ON THE
BICENTENNIAL OF YOUR CONSTITUTION, THE POLISH PEOPLE
WILL HAVE ACHIEVED THE KIND OF POLITICAL TRANSFORMATION
SO LONG AWAITED, so LONG DEFERRED.
- 9 -
MR. CHAIRMAN, MR. PRIME MINISTER -- LET US LIFT OUR
GLASSES TO THE PROGRESS WE HAVE MADE IN RELATIONS --
AND TO OUR DETERMINATION TO PROCEED TOWARD THE BETTER
DAYS AND GREAT ACHIEVEMENTS STILL TO COME.
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