THE SARMATIAN REVIEW Vol. XIX, No. 3 September 1999 Making a difference Jerzy Giedroyc and Kultura

Jerzy Giedroyc, the founder of Institut Littéraire in Paris and editor of its flagship periodical Kultura. This Polish-language monthly and the publishing house which sponsors it exerted an indelible influence on twentieth-century Polish culture and politics. Photo courtesy of Institut Littéraire. 638 THE SARMATIAN REVIEW September 1999 The Sarmatian Review (ISSN 1059- failed to persuade. 5872) is a triannual publication of the Polish In- From the Editor As Giedroyc learned from bitter experi- stitute of Houston. The journal deals with Polish, In this issue, we are pleased to offer to ence, only those things get done which the Central, and Eastern European affairs, and their our readers the first-ever translation into editor is able to accomplish him/herself. implications for the United States. We specialize in the translation of documents. English of the Jerzy Giedroyc-Melchior Then and now, most people of note have Subscription price is $15.00 per year for individu- Waƒkowicz correspondence. We are pub- their own agendas and they take unkindly als, $21.00 for institutions and libraries ($21.00 lishing only excerpts, but they are reveal- to those who wish to use them instead of for individuals, $27.00 for libraries overseas, air ing. Giedroyc is arguably the most sig- cooperating with them for a mutual benefit. mail). The views expressed by authors of articles do not necessarily represent those of the Editors nificant Polish intellectual “mover and In his early years, Jerzy Giedroyc tried many or of the Polish Institute. Articles are subject to shaker” of the last fifty years, and the times—unsuccessfully—to enlist others in editing. Unsolicited manuscripts and other mate- monthly Kultura which he has edited for his plans. Waƒkowicz was one of those he rials are not returned unless accompanied by a self- half a century initiated two generations tried to enlist. His amusing rejoinders to addressed and stamped envelope. Please submit your contribution on a Macintosh disk together of Poles into the ideas and attitudes which Giedroyc’s pleas showed him at his best. with a printout. Letters to the Editor can be e-mailed became the distinguishing marks of Pol- Waƒkowicz possessed a “Sarmatian” abil- to , with an accompanying ish intellectual circles. For better or ity to chat and to tell stories, an ability which printout sent by snail mail. Articles, letters, and worse, Giedroyc has been a defining made his books into bestsellers in Poland. subscription checks should be sent to voice of the left-leaning Polish intelligen- The Sarmatian Review, P.O. Box 79119, Giedroyc was wrong in suggesting that Houston, Texas 77279-9119. tsia. Furthermore, his integrity, patriotism American Polonia would approve of The Sarmatian Review retains the copyright for all and resourcefulness are a model and a People’s Poland because of that country’s materials included in print and online issues. Cop- legend. While the letters do not literally ostensible promotion of workers and ies for personal or educational use are permitted tell us “how Kultura was born,” they ad- peasants. American Polonia remained by section 107 and 108 of the U.S. Copyright Law. umbrate the path any editor has to take Permission to redistribute, republish, or use SR staunchly anticommunist, much more so materials in advertising or promotion must be sub- to make his/her periodical flourish. than many a Polish intellectual who paid mitted in writing to the Editor. The letters have been ably prepared for for a comfortable living with his/her in- Editor: Ewa M.Thompson (Rice University). publication by Aleksandra Ziółkowska- tegrity, e.g., Ksawery Pruszyƒski. Editorial Advisory Committee: Janusz A. Boehm. They display Giedroyc as a per- Ihnatowicz (University of Saint Thomas), Marek We would be remiss not to mention Kimmel (Rice University), Alex Kurczaba (Uni- fect editor, willing to invest time and ef- Professor Andrzej Walicki who contrib- versity of Illinois), Witold J. Lukaszewski (Sam fort in helping his writers advance (e.g., uted a review to this issue. Walicki points Houston State University), Michael J. Mikos (Uni- his attempts to find English and French out that Andrzej de Lazari’s trilingual versity of Wisconsin), James R. Thompson (Rice publishers for Waƒkowicz). It is to University), Andrzej WaÊko (Jagiellonian Univer- work, Ideas in Russia, is grounded in an sity). Giedroyc’s everlasting credit that he essentialist approach to reality, the ap- Web Pages: Charles Bearden (Rice University) made it possible for Czeslaw Milosz and proach which has been part and parcel of Web Address: . Witold Gombrowicz to shine. Some- Polish culture for centuries. Professor Sarmatian Review Council: Marla K. Burns (Burns times, the otherwise good periodicals on & Associates), Boguslaw Godlewski (Diagnostic Walicki’s own position is anti-essential- Clinic of Houston), Iga J. Henderson, Danuta Z. East Central Europe do poorly in this ist, and he rightly warns us against the Hutchins (Buena Vista University), Joseph A. country because their editors wish to use excesses of essentialism. He is also right Jachimczyk (J.A. Jachimczyk Forensic Center of Har- them as springboards for their own ca- to point out that Polish scholarship on ris County, Texas), Leonard M. Krazynski (Krazynski reers, rather than vehicles for other & Associates), Waclaw Mucha (Rice University), Russia is substantial and often first-rate. Aleksandra Ziółkowska-Boehm. people’s thoughts. Giedroyc did not want To make it available to the English-speak- In this issue: to make a career of Kultura and that, para- ing world is a challenge which the Ameri- SR INDEX...... 639 doxically, is precisely why he made a cans of Polish descent should welcome. Jerzy Giedroyc-Melchior Waƒkowicz career of it. The law of unintended con- Also in this issue, Marek Chodakiewicz Correspondence, edited by Aleksandra sequences. sensibly argues that the United States’ Ziółkowska-Boehm...... 641 Another aspect of the letters is talking engagement in Europe is in Poland’s best BOOKS and Periodicals Received.....650 at cross-purposes which frequently oc- interest. The American presence in Eu- Andrzej Walicki on Ideas in Russia ed- curs between émigré intellectuals and rope keeps that continent at peace. Fi- ited by Andrzej de Lazari (review)....652 Americans of Central and Eastern Euro- nally, Professors Hunter and Ryan re- Marek Chodakiewicz, Poland and the pean descent. Polish intellectuals do not mind us of the dramatic difference be- Future of NATO...... 655 understand that American Polonia owes tween the uses made by Poland and Richard J. Hunter, Jr., and Leo V. Ryan, its allegiance to America first, and that Russia of freedom. While Russia con- C.S.V., Prospects for the Polish Economy, they cannot be expected to behave as do tinues to wither even though billions 1999-2000...... 659 the Polish political émigrés. It is up to of dollars flow to it from the US Trea- Sally Boss, Afterthoughts on Wisława the latter to convince the former that cer- sury (allegedly to prevent the spread of Szymborska...... 662 tain actions need to be undertaken, but a nuclear weapons, but perhaps special LETTERS...... 663 failure to persuade cannot be blamed on interests play a role too), Poland re- ANNOUNCEMENTS AND NOTES663 those who were not persuaded; rather, it ceives no handouts yet it manages to About the Authors...... 663 should be laid at the feet of those who grow. ∆ September 1999 THE SARMATIAN REVIEW 639 Sarmatian Review Index Demography United Nations projections of population decrease in Central and Eastern Europe over the next 50 years: Belarus - down from 10.3 million to 8.3 million, or minus 19.4 percent. Bulgaria - from 8.3 to 5.7 million people, or minus 31.3 percent. Croatia - from 4.5 to 3.7 million, or minus 20 percent. Czech Republic - down from 10.3 million to 7.8 million, or minus 24.3 percent. Estonia - down from 1.4 to 900,000, or minus 35.7 percent. Latvia - down from 2.4 to 1.6 million people, or minus 33.3 percent. Lithuania - from 3.7 to 3 million, or minus 18.9 percent. Poland - from 38.7 to 36.3 million people, or minus 6.2 percent. Romania - down from 22.5 million to 16.4 million, or minus 27.1 percent. Russia - down from 147.4 million people to 121.3 million, or minus 17.7 percent (Note: see below for 1999 data). Slovakia - down from 5.4 million to 4.8 million, or minus 11.1 percent. Ukraine - down from 50.9 million to 39.3 million, or minus 22.8 percent. Source: Robert Lyle, “World: Populations Shrinking In Eastern Europe, Russia,” Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty, 12 March 1999. Estimated population of the Russian Federation as of 1 January 1999: 146.3 million. Population decreases in 1997 and 1998, respectively: minus 755,900 and minus 705,100 persons. Average monthly wages in 1997 and 1998, respectively: $204 and $73. Source: Statisticheskoe Obozrenie: Ezhekvartal’nyi Zhurnal, No. 1/28 (1999). Estimated decrease in the population of the Russian Federation between January-May 1999: minus 346,700 persons. Source: Russian statistics agency, as reported by Paul Goble in “Democracy and Development,” RFE/RL, 2 August 1999. Estimated percentage decrease in the population of Poland in 1998 (as compared to 1997): minus 0.04 percent. Source: The World Factbook 1998 (http://www.odci.gov/cia/publications/factbook). Population of Kazakhstan in 1989 and 1999, respectively: 16.4 million and 15.6 million. Source: “Central Asia: the shrinking hordes,” The Economist, 3 April 1999. Estimated number of detainees and prison inmates in Russian prisons who die each year due to physical abuse, overcrowding, inferior sanitary conditions, disease and lack of medical care: between 10,000 and 20,000 (estimate provided by independent human rights groups). Source: The U.S. State Department report, as reported by Agence France-Presse, 26 February 1999. Number of registered drug addicts in St. Petersburg in 1999: 500,000, or one person in every ten in this city of five million. Source: Marina Korinova of AFP, 14 March 1999. Number of pensioners in Russia in 1998: 28 million, or one out of five citizens. Source: Novye Izvestiia, 29 April 1999. Nationhood Percentage of young Belarusians for whom Belarusian identity is important: 66 percent. Source: Larissa Titarenko, Professor of Sociology at Belarus State University in Minsk, in a lecture given at the Kennan Institute (Meeting Report, vol. XVI, No. 11, 1999). Economy Polish GDP increase in 1998: 4.8 percent. Source: Central Statistical Office (GUS), as reported by Donosy, 23 March 1999. Percentage increase in investment outlays in 1998 (compared to 1997): 21 percent. Source: Central Statistical Office (GUS), as reported by Donosy, 30 March 1999. Percentage decrease in foreign investment in Russia in 1998: 37 percent, to a total of $3.36 billion. Percentage decrease in portfolio investment in Russia in 1998: 71.9 percent, to a total of $191 million. Accumulated foreign investment in Russia since 1992: $35.34 billion. Source: AFP, 25 February 1999. Names of American companies that pulled out of Russia following the August 1998 economic meltdown: Pizza Hut, Kentucky Fried Chicken, Dunkin Donuts, and others, making a total of 50 U.S. companies. Names of the American companies that stayed: McDonald’s and Baskin-Robbins. Source: UPI, 1 March 1999; Houston Chronicle, 6 April 1999. 640 THE SARMATIAN REVIEW September 1999 Economy cont. Amount of money which west Germany sent to east Germany each year between 1991-1998: between 106 and 141 billion DM (1 DM=approximately $1.80). Inflation-adjusted cost of the Marshall Plan between 1948-51: 150 billion DM. Source: The Economist, 6-12 February 1999. Percentage increase in Lithuania's GDP in 1998: 4.4 percent, to a total of $10.5 billion. Source: Lithuanian Department of Statistics, as reported by AFP, 31 March 1999. Percentage of U.S. job holders who work in services: 80 percent. Source: James Flanigan, “High tech’s effects seen in economy,” Houston Chronicle, 3 April 1999. Percentage of Russian domestic debt (GKOs) restructured into security papers paying five cents on the dollar: 95 percent, on a debt originally worth 40 billion dollars, shrunk down to 10 billion dollars after the August 1998 melt- down, and further reduced to the new papers’ total worth of $500,000. Source: Russian Finance Minister Mikhail Zadornov, as reported by AFP (Moscow), 30 April 1999. Wealth Net worth of U.S. households at the end of 1988 and 1998, respectively: $18.38 trillion and $36.79 trillion (includes real estate, pensions, bank deposits, stocks and bonds, insurance). Source: The Federal Reserve Bank, as reported by Houston Chronicle, 16 March 1999. President Boris Yeltsin’s tax declaration in 1998: income of 183,837 rubles ($7,000), consisting of a monthly stipend of 10,000 rubles plus interest on a savings account at state-owned Sberbank; a 323 sq. m. apartment in Moscow; a dacha of 450 sq. m. with a four-hectare plot; and a BMW. President Yeltsin’s declared income in 1997: 1.95 million rubles, or $300,000 (the figure reflects additional income from book sales and 75 percent drop in ruble value between the two tax declarations). Source: Argumenty i fakty, as reported by AFP, 15 April 1999. Trade Russian trade surplus in 1998: $14.4 billion. Value of Russian imports in 1998: $59.5 billion. Value of Russian exports in 1998: $73.9 billion. Source: AFP, 25 February 1999. Crime Percentage increase of reported thefts in Warsaw in 1998 (as compared to 1997): 21 percent. Percentage increase of car thefts in Warsaw in 1998: seven percent. Source: AFP (Warsaw), 3 March 1999. Number of prisoners in federal and state prisons and local jails in the United States in 1999: two million, or almost double the number a decade ago, and triple the number of two decades ago. Percentage of prisoners in federal jails who are drug offenders: 60 percent. Percentage of prisoners in state and local jails who are drug offenders: 22 percent. Source: Houston Chronicle, 7 March 1999. Crimes Number of surviving Polish Gentile prisoners of Auschwitz and other Nazi concentration camps on whose behalf a lawsuit was filed in 1999 in the law court in Bonn asking for reparations from the German government: 22,000. Source: Donosy, 2 April 1999. Number of Polish Christian Nazi victims still alive in Poland and hoping for German compensation for being forced into slave labor during World War II: 500,000. Source: Polish Prime Minister Jerzy Buzek, as reported by AFP (Gdansk), 30 April 1999. Russian-Chinese Relations Number of Chinese presently living in the Russian Far East: 300,000. Total population of the Russian Far East: 7.4 million. Total population of the three Chinese provinces across the border: 300 million. Source: Neela Banerjee in The Christian Science Monitor, 29 April 1999. World Wide Web Revenue earned from the Internet in Russia in 1998: $160 million dollars, or triple the figure for 1997. Number of customers who have access to Internet: 1.5 million, or a 50 percent increase over 1997. Source: Vremya daily, as reported by AFP (Moscow), 15 April 1999. September 1999 THE SARMATIAN REVIEW 641 are impecunious), and partly because I would like Kultura Correspondence to be truly independent. I came to the conclusion that I need funds for two consecutive years; after that, I hope Kultura would be self-supporting; besides, over a period Jerzy Giedroyc of two years one can not only begin a great many things but also achieve them. Since most émigré periodicals are Melchior Waƒkowicz closing down and the London émigré community is co- matose, I would like to broaden Kultura in such a way as to make its subject matter cover all relevant areas. In that Edited by Aleksandra Ziółkowska-Boehm connection, I need to increase the number of pages in each issue to 300. I could then add a novel in installments, Excerpts a large political archival section (replacing the “Interna- tional Affairs” section), an extensive “Cultural Chronicle,” The letters presented here will be published in the original a bibliographic section and reviews of foreign and do- Polish in 2000 by the Czytelnik Publishing House in Warsaw. mestic books. Then Kultura would fulfill the tasks I en- They will be part of the series titled Archiwum Kultury. The col- lection will include letters preserved in the Archives of the Institut visage for it. Littéraire in Paris and in Melchior Waƒkowicz’s Archive in War- The émigré circles are so clueless and horrible, politi- saw (the Waƒkowicz Archive belongs to Aleksandra Z. Boehm). cally speaking, that I decided to take action. In coopera- As evidenced by their letters, the two intellectuals differed tion with Kultura friends and collaborators, I decided that considerably in their political views, and the differences grew as time went on. While Waƒkowicz refused to take political this periodical has to formulate some positive policies and stances, Giedroyc was a born politician. While Giedroyc ini- positions on issues that others avoid in a cowardly fash- tially accepted Waƒkowicz’s articles and novels for publication ion. Issues such as the German question, our attitude to by the newly created publishing house, Institut Littéraire, he the Russians, the matter of European federalism, etc. eventually parted ways with him. When World War 2 ended, In order to put to work this two-year plan, I need 14 Waƒkowicz was a relatively well known writer, while Giedroyc was a beginner. As time went on, Giedroyc gained popularity thousand dollars. This will cover the cost of paper and and acquired financial means, while Waƒkowicz fell into pov- print, as well as enable me to pay slightly higher hono- erty and relative obscurity. The changes in mutual relations can raria to authors who continue to fall into deeper and deeper be gauged by their letter headings. They start with “My dear poverty. In present circumstances, I think that the only Jerzy” [Drogi Panie Jerzy] and “My dear Melchior” [Drogi Panie Melchiorze] in 1949, and change to “Dear Sir” [Szanowny Panie] way to get this kind of money is to make an appeal in the toward the end of Waƒkowicz’s émigré period. In 1958, United States, even though I realize how difficult and Waƒkowicz returned to Poland, while Giedroyc remained in nearly hopeless this might be, given that horrible entity Paris, continuing to edit the Polish émigré monthly Kultura and called American Polonia. Thus I do not count on Polonian managing his publishing house which gained a sterling repu- organizations at all; instead, I would like to make an ap- tation among dissident writers in the Soviet bloc countries. Editorial clarifications are in square parentheses and they peal to some several dozen well-to-do people tapping not follow the Sarmatian Review style (as opposed to that of the only their civic sense but also their vanity. I envisage a Czytelnik Publishing House). Committee of Friends of Kultura that would seek and find such possible donors. Both individuals and organizations 1949 could be donors. There would be three levels of dona- March 9 tions: $500, $100, and $50. We would dedicate a Kultura My dear Melchior: issue to those giving 500 dollars, and their names would appear in all issues as sponsors of the periodical. Those I have to ask you for a big favor which [our common offering less would see their names mentioned in each acquaintance Aleksander Połczyƒski] Janta has already issue on the list of friends and supporters. mentioned to you, I believe. At stake is the future of For such a committee to be effective, it would have to Kultura. As you can easily guess, this publication has a consist of a small number of people of high authority and negative cash flow in spite of the slow but steady increase a sterling reputation; they would have to be flexible self- in the number of subscribers. I hoped that our reserves starters. And here comes my request. I cannot imagine would last until the fall, but a catastrophic drop in the anyone except yourself in the role of the organizer. If you stock market in France makes me solvent for the next few are of the opinion that Kultura is needed, if you trust me months only. I do not want to ask [the Poles in] London, sufficiently to believe that we [at Kultura] are capable of partly because this would be a hopeless attempt (they too delivering on promises and that these promises make 642 THE SARMATIAN REVIEW September 1999 sense, I would very warmly ask you for help. Become a don 1951]; it is our most recent publication. Let me know leader and organize such a committee. Please give me a what you think of it. frank answer. I realize that this is a problem of believing Jerzy Giedroyc or disbelieving in me, in my ability to do something with that kind of money. If you refuse, our relations will not March 10 change. At the same time, it goes without saying that I My dear Melchior: cannot offer you any guarantees except my sincere con- viction that I am able to create a reservoir of political I have another major request. Please write for Kultura thought among and by Polish émigrés, and thus I hope to an article about the American Polonia and the recent Pol- find a justification for the existence of these émigrés. So ish migration to the United States, with particular atten- please take a risk. tion paid to intellectuals and their sterility. This would be a follow-up to [Andrzej] Bobkowski’s Perhaps it would be possible, with the help of some article which, in addition to factual information, contains American politician, to create a traveling exhibit on a lot of spin. the Soviet concentration camps. I envisage a fac- Would you be willing to write a review of [Tadeusz] simile of a real Soviet camp, its barracks and sleep- Katelbach’s Spowiedê pokolenia? ing bunks, life-size figures of uniformed NKVD I do hope that you will not “betray” us for either [Mieczysław] Grydzewski’s or [Józef] Bielatowicz’s pe- policemen; prisoners in rags, their meals and food riodicals. portions, and assigned daily tasks: amassing a pile With warm regards, of wood or coal, and the area of forest which each Jerzy Giedroyc prisoner had to clear. (JG) March 29 In case you agree, I have some suggestions. Try to My dear Melchior: bring [Józef] Wittlin into the Committee. I have heard that he enjoys considerable respect in Jewish financial Many thanks for your letter of March 20. I did not circles in America. The same for Janta who could be sec- know you were enough of a contrarian to write an excel- retary of such a Committee. Janta is very flexible and lent article in the form of a letter. Would you agree to hard-working, he knows America and I think that he likes publish this letter [in Kultura] as a kind of a guidepost Kultura. Perhaps Mr. Wellisz [a Polish Jewish financier] leading in the direction so far taken only by Józio. I very would also be interested. I have seen to it that he [would] much hope you will say yes. soon receive a letter from one of his friends; that letter I do correspond with [General Zygmunt Szyszko] will speak warmly about such a Committee. I mention Bohusz. He calls me “my dear Major” (apparently that these names somewhat like a blind man tapping a road puts me in a symbiotic relationship with Józio’s military with his staff; I do not really know the personal geogra- title), but nevertheless he did write to Orzeł Biały [a Pol- phy of Poles in America. I should think that the lectures ish periodical published in London] to ask whether they which you so frequently give in Polish circles could be were going to print his work or not; he is supposed to tell used for our purpose: I am certain that a few Chicago me when he hears from them. I urged him to hurry up. butchers would want to enter History for a mere 500 dol- I am returning the clipping as asked. I do not under- lars. Perhaps Artur Rubinstein could be drawn into this as stand why you did not yet receive either Kultura or the well, or [Witold] Małcužynski; perhaps an appeal could book. I am sending you a second copy, although it is hard be made during a concert, in the style of the Kosciuszko to believe the first one got lost. Foundation which I hear does this sort of thing. In any I have always wondered—unsuccessfully—what is the case, all this would have to happen quickly and be over secret of Grydzewski’s charm. In spite of the total steril- by the end of May. Until then, I can hold on. After May, I ity of his periodical [WiadomoÊci, a Polish émigré peri- can only drag it on, and that precludes maintaining and odical published in London, attempted to be a more con- developing a serious policy even with regard to authors: servative continuation of a left-wing and pro-Commuist it is difficult to commission an article or translation of a pre-war periodical WiadomoÊci Literackie], not to speak novel if one is not sure whether the periodical would con- of the harm it does (it is like the one before the war, only tinue to appear. in reverse), everyone seems to be attracted to it. It is hard Please answer as quickly as possible. We mailed you to compete with him and I humbly await the crumbs from Józio’s book [Józef Czapski, The Inhuman Land, Lon- September 1999 THE SARMATIAN REVIEW 643 his table. If they do not want this “farming” story of yours, raise the issue of a university that would serve students I will take it. from behind the Iron Curtain. [James] Burnham is an en- It is a waste of time to write about the situation in thusiast of this project, and he is supposed to start an ad- London’s “Polish world.” It is monstrous in its decompo- vertising campaign in the United States as soon as he re- sition. In any case, I have rebelled. I concocted a memo- turns home from Europe. Such are my occupations now. randum to the “leader” [Grydzewski] about “how the little But I prefer them to the London [Polish community’s] Giedroyc imagines the salvation of Poland.” I will mail it bad smells which intensify as time goes on. We are doing as a kind of ultimatum accompanied by a note saying that our best to explain to Władysław [unidentified, Ed., pos- if it is not accepted, or at least subjected to discussion and sibly Anders] to stop doing silly things and start working, used as a basis for a counter-proposal, I am going to go but to no avail. At present, [the Polish] London is ruled against them. In order to make it more dramatic, I de- by Rubel [unidentified] and [Wiesław] Wohnout [a mi- clared that I am out of money, I included reports, etc., nor émigré]. I am not exaggerating. etc., so that they would not take me for a crook who took Any news about the article on the American Polonia? public money and wasted it [on Institut Littéraire]. In other Have you decided to write it? I really would like to have words, I would ask for further funds if we come to an it. The June issue closes May 20-25. agreement. Naturally I oversimplify, and all this is confi- Warmly, dential. I think the entire matter will come to a head within Jerzy Giedroyc a month, for I am not one to accept phony solutions. It was hard for me to use such language, but I see no other May 31 way. As you can see, the situation has changed since my My dear Jerzy: last letter. But I have no choice. Would you please let me know by return mail whether Excuse my long silence. But what can I say except you permit me to publish your Letter? The April issue is repeat such cliches as “I am at your service.” That does already in print, but the May issue remains open ‘til April not bring in funds, because the person performing the “ser- 10. vice” is powerless. As proof, please consider the fact that Warm regards from all of us at Maisons-Laffitte to both having completed two long typescripts, I am unable to of you, find a publisher for them or even to publish them in in- Jerzy Giedroyc stallments in some [American] periodical. I have not made a penny since I came to the United States, and my at- May 6 tempts to drum up some support for Joe’s book ended in My dear Melchior: total failure. Perhaps Janta will be able to help; he lives in I have not yet heard from you concerning my query as New York, while I live in the country. Over the last five to whether you are inclined to get involved in our finan- months, I spent two days in New York, and only because cial problems, yet I am writing to you again. I got a letter I had some paperwork to do there. Now I am here for a from Wellisz (he is actually an acquaintance of mine), four-day stay on the occasion of the Monte Cassino battle whom we also tried to persuade to underwrite Kultura. anniversary. The celebration has been laboriously orga- He found an excuse in family troubles. Nevertheless, he nized by a Committee of Five United [Polish] Organiza- sent us some printing tools. He cannot stand Janta; ac- tions; they worked on it for three months. The inestimable cording to him, you are the only person who could be- Opaliƒski from Polish Book Importing introduced me as come for us the great alms collector. I enclose an excerpt the greatest national bard alive. He set up a book stand from his letter. with my books, displayed my portrait and press clippings, I am trying to advance the matter of Józio’s speaking invited General KwaÊniewski to say enthusiastically that tour of America. It now appears that Br[onisław] my books contain photographs of events I would be talk- Młynarski, who now lives in Hollywood and is married ing about (not to mention the fact that an autograph of the to a starlet, promised to find an agent who would orga- Distinguished Author can be obtained for free). After all nize such a tour. I keep trying. I really would like for this, it turned out that only three copies of my book were Józio to go to America in the fall. sold. A public opinion survey (to use the London Polish I am also trying to convince some Frenchmen to un- style) revealed that these copies were bought by three derwrite a bilingual Polish-French daily, and I tell them schlemiels who had just washed up from Europe. that this ultimately would benefit the French. So far so I hear that there exists somewhere in New York a good. If I succeed, this will be quite a coup. Also, I try to mythical “Ganna” or “Hanna” whose name escapes me, 644 THE SARMATIAN REVIEW September 1999 a Polish woman married to a rich American who subsi- P.S. When will Józio arrive here? dizes [Jan] Lechoƒ as an epicenter of Polish aspirations; but I am unable to reach the above “Ganna,” Perhaps Janta July 19 rather than I could do it; he should sacrifice his, well, My dear Melchior: contrary tastes for the fatherland’s sake. (By the way, on page 19 of the book you published, he confesses that he is Thank you for your letter. Florczak’s address is as fol- particularly fond of capons.) lows: 43 rue d’Irlande, St. Gilles-Bruxelles. I am looking My dear Jerzy, you are burning, and I throw at you my forward to your contribution to the discussion. I would, coarse farmer’s humor. But what else can we do? I am however, like to get it no later than mid-August. like a Belarusian peasant seated on a river bank, slowly What are the chances of you writing an article about chewing his bread and onions and advising his drowning the American Polonia which you once wished to write? comrade: “Do not waste your energy, friend, go directly Perhaps you are preparing it for the oh-so-patriotic to the bottom.” Grydz[ewski]? Let me stop joking. It certainly would be a lesser loss Józio leaves in early November. He will begin his tour if [the émigré government of President August] Zaleski in Canada where he was invited to give several lectures went down rather than if Kultura did. But what can be in French. This will not cover the cost of the air ticket, but done? The last issue is excellent. Although I must confess it will take care of his living expenses in Canada, and that articles such as those by [Wacław] Zbyszewski irri- whatever is left over will enable him to start off in the tate me: this is the only article I have not read. To write United States. We have grand hopes for the U.S., and, I in about what must and will happen in Poland is pompous particular, place high hopes in the entire trip. idiocy. We are just a result of a Great Transformation, and Things are going from bad to worse here, but our spir- I learn more about Poland when I read about Russia or its are high. the United States than when I read about Poland itself. Many greetings, Szyszko-Bohusz wrote that you would publish his re- Jerzy Giedroyc view. I am glad. Did you have any trouble because of Katelbach? Czernyszewicz wrote me demanding a review August 3 in Kultura. My dear Jerzy: Warm greetings, M. Waƒkowicz Something unexpected happened: my topic grew to 64 Kultura pages, as you can see from the enclosed. I July 14 have covered the topic, so there will be no more surprises My dear Jerzy: unless there are mistakes in counting, which may happen because I have not written by hand since my school days. I wrote “Letter to Florczak” [Florczak wrote for I have made a clean copy of half of it, namely, Part Kultura for a number of years using the pen name, Pelikan] One, titled “World.” The other half will take about a week. because of your request to discuss things. It ballooned to I’ll mail it around August 10. I have no idea how long it 22 Kultura pages. It does contain subtitles, dialogues etc., takes by surface mail…. but I fear that you will reject it on account of its length. M. Waƒkowicz I did not have a typewriter with me and wrote by hand; I’ll start a clean copy tomorrow. But I have to wash eggs 1950 on the farm, and so it will take me some time to do the January 3 rewriting. Just in time to receive an air mail letter from My dear Melchior: you giving me Florczak’s address. I would like to send that “Letter” to him even if you print my text in Kultura, Please excuse my long silence, but I continue to be in because I would like for him to prepare a rejoinder for the a whirlwind of troubles which do not leave me even dur- next issue; and if you do not publish my “Letter,” it will ing the holidays. Here are the answers: still provide fodder for his thoughts and writing. In any I do not understand why you did not get the Decem- case, I’ll send you a copy via air mail [rather than by fax], ber issue [of Kultura] since Siedlecki got it, and we send because of the lower cost. the journal to all our American recipients at the same time. Best regards, I double-checked and I am sure we mailed you the issue. M. Waƒkowicz I keep dragging on the idea of the Third Way Club September 1999 THE SARMATIAN REVIEW 645 [Klub III Miejsca, a political essay authored by Zbigniew its barracks and sleeping bunks, life-size figures of uni- Florczak, followed up by Waƒkowicz in “A Letter to formed NKVD policemen; prisoners in rags, their meals Florczak” published in Kultura, and eventually developed and food portions, and assigned daily tasks: amassing a into a book by Waƒkowicz], and I consider the publica- pile of wood or coal, and the area of forest which each tion [in Polish] of [James] Burnham’s book [The Mana- prisoner had to clear. The original photographs would also gerial Revolution] to be part of the program. Installments be on display, as well as books in all languages that have of Burnham’s book will run in three consecutive issues: it been published on this topic. is a lengthy piece considering our possibilities. Burnham There are architects and artists available, e.g., [Jerzy] updated it especially for us. Hryniewiecki, who could design such an exhibit. This Glinka’s piece seems weak, and it is also very long; I exhibit would then travel through the largest American cannot publish it, but at his request I am sending the type- cities (those which could house so large a display). I think script to you. that if it were done well, such an exhibit could signifi- Believe me, I neither regret nor fear the storm which cantly influence American public opinion, and the agent your Third Way Club has occasioned. I only regret that it who organizes it could make a tidy sum. I am writing all ended in personal insinuations instead of a public dis- about it because I want you to discuss this matter with cussion. But I believe the piece did its job in the so-called Józio; if you think it is feasible and sufficiently “Ameri- society. People got interested enough to quarrel, and you can,” please urge Józio to do something about it, and do will thus obtain a few friends and a great many enemies. something about it yourself. I doubt there is another per- On the other hand, when I look at that miserable en- son in the United States, other than yourself, who could tity called Europe, I despair about its ability to produce put such a thing in motion. Of course the exhibit would the will to achieve; it seems only able to conceptualize also feature lectures. and to theorize. The situation in France in particular in- Another idea: since the IRO [the International Res- clines one to total pessimism. cue Organization which helped refugees from commu- I agree with you that one should stay away from the nist countries] is about to breathe its last, perhaps a small change of petty discussions. It is better to wait and, competition for the best DP [Displaced Persons] mem- when the right moment comes, to present the entire ac- oirs could be organized. I tried to do it already but found counting. I will publish [the] Stern [interview] in the Janu- out that Kultura would not be able to raise funds for it. ary issue, just as I said. Unfortunately your corrections Such a competition could create important social and came too late, the issue had already been printed. Fortu- sociological documents, and it would be a parting shot nately, we caught most of the typos ourselves. for the IRO. Americans like all kinds of competitions, Józio has not written for a long time, but I hear that he so I have tried to convince Józio to bring this project is quite tired and pessimistic. I still consider his trip to to the attention of one of the publishing houses or a Canada a success and count on some golden fleece when foundation. It goes without saying that such a memoir he comes back. At the same time, I realize that he played would have to cover all the languages and be published the role of a pathfinder. in Europe, Argentina, and Australia, besides Canada This first trip should be followed by a second and a and the United States. I recommend against the cre- better prepared one. The trick is to live long enough to ation of a large and multinational jury because this see it. would only increase the bureaucracy. The jury must be I try to keep Józio alerted to two issues. The first is the lean and mean, and it should consist of members of [David] Rousset affair [Rousset tried to form an associa- one nationality only; it should have at its disposal many tion of survivors of Nazi and Soviet death camps]. The translators. Do not laugh, but I see three people on such second is the Arthur Bliss Lane issue [his campaign to a jury: yourself, Florian Znaniecki,and Jerzy St∏powski. give publicity to Soviet crimes]. No matter how light- Such a trio could extract all the juices from a mountain weight his committee is, the issue of the Soviet death of material, and the winning memoir could become a camps begins to gather steam. We could on that occasion bestseller, not to speak of its political value. bring in some Polish issues as well. As you know, [the Please, do discuss this with Józio and help him to or- Polish Army archives in the West] contain a huge collec- ganize it. tion of photos and films made in Soviet Russia. Perhaps it Finally, some news that will not cheer you up; it did would be possible, with the help of some American poli- not cheer me up. Florczak decided to return to [Soviet- tician, to create a traveling exhibit on the Soviet concen- occupied] Poland. A couple of weeks ago I got a short tration camps. I envisage a facsimile of a real Soviet camp, and disjointed letter from him in which he made his fam- 646 THE SARMATIAN REVIEW September 1999 ily responsible for his decision: “I did it because of two One more thing. [Manès] Sperber (author of Et le women, one of whom is my mother who resides in Po- buisson devint cendre), who advises [the French publisher] land.” Also, he was unable to obtain a refugee status from Calmann-Levy, suddenly got very interested in Polish the IRO [such a status enabled the recipients to settle in mss. It occurred to me that he might want to take a look at Western countries]. He asks for our consideration and re- your book on the Jews (both of them are Jewish). If you quests that no comments appear in Kultura about his de- want me to pursue this, I shall; I would need a summary cision; he does not even want to be defended if someone from you, if not in French then at least in English. attacked him. When I tried to change his mind, he curtly What do you think of Romer’s idea of a tour of Canada answered that it was too late and that a “third prize” does and the Arctic with a view to promoting those Poles who not exist. I answered that I disagree, and I think he acted were explorers? I think this is an excellent idea, and it in a cowardly fashion; but I do not condemn him, for I could sell. It would be a book comparable to your Monte had long ceased condemning anyone. Such was the end. Cassino. So far everything is quiet, even though he had already Warm regards, left. I do not understand him, I really do not know him Jerzy Giedroyc that well, but I think that his decision might be a result of the local Polonia’s malicious gossip. I do not think he February 18 was an agent (even the ever-suspicious Wraga does not My dear Jerzy: suspect him of that); I think he was simply a weak and unhappy member of the intelligentsia: a not-atypical situ- Letters from you are like vitamin pills. ation. I think that the less said about this affair, the better. Do not send me Koestler’s books; I have them all, and Personally I do not regret in the least that we published I will write the review as requested. If I do not manage to his works. do it before my departure for Canada, I’ll let you know, Cordially, and with best wishes from the entire staff, so that you can assign this to someone else. Jerzy Giedroyc I am sending you a summary of my three “Jewish” books. February 14 Erdman says that if the Polish details in [my book] My dear Melchior: Ziele na kraterze could be somehow removed, the book would become a truly universal piece. And that it would Would you be interested in reviewing for Kultura be even more successful than my Jewish books. Arthur Koestler’s last two books? They deal with Pales- Did the Jews get offended at my remembrances of tine. I need that review not only because I want to main- [Avraham] Stern? tain good relations with him and with his editor, but also I accepted Romer’s proposal. I will go [to Canada] for because we have finally found our way to Palestine: 50 a two-week tour and will give the first lecture on March copies of Kultura go there every month, not a bad begin- 12. We would then talk, weigh the possibilities and per- ning. If you agree, I’ll send you the books in French im- haps arrange for a three-month tour in October. mediately. You say this book [about Canada, the Arctic, and the Unexpectedly, I got several intelligent rejoinders to Poles] could be as significant as Monte Cassino. I do not your ms. about the Third Way Club. I am now obsessed yet feel it. I shall undertake this project because I have no with the English edition of Kultura that would be targeted other possibilities. I would like to work on another book at the United States, at first as a quarterly. I think that with titled Mi∏dzyepoka [between the wars]. Romer asked me some effort, one could create an interesting periodical that to do a lecture especially for the young people. I made a would differ considerably from the totally hopeless Pol- little plan and it is growing, just as the “Letter to Florczak” ish Review. The main problem is, how to get money for it. metamorphosed into the Third Way Club. If I had enough According to a preliminary estimate, a single issue would money to live on, I would certainly not go to Canada but cost thousands of dollars. Would it be possible to pinch stay here and read. But since I have to choose between anything from that Drew Committee? I know it is sup- raising chickens for a living and sightseeing in a new coun- posed to serve those intellectuals who are permanently try, I choose the latter. anchored in the United States, but perhaps those intellec- I am most interested in comments about the Club. I am a tuals—including yourself—could sponsor Kultura as their bit worried that I did not protest all that nonsense that was own project. I would be grateful if you could discuss this written about me after the Club appeared, and that therefore it with Józio and give me your advice. may stick. September 1999 THE SARMATIAN REVIEW 647 Once more, thanks for the vitamins. money is now being collected in Toronto. I quietly hope Warm regards to all, that you will promote Kultura during your tour. I have no Melchior Waƒkowicz illusions about the possibilities of making Kultura really important for the Polish Canadian public, but in our cir- P.S. In addition to my Jewish book, I also have a transla- cumstances, every new subscription is essential. tion of Szczeni∏ce lata. Ms. Dziadulska once translated it I still have crazy hopes about the English-language into French but it was never published. edition of Kultura, and I am impatiently waiting for Józio’s After I sealed the envelope, the following oc- return [from America]. Alas, the chances are slim. What curred to me, and so I unsealed it: do you think about that Drew Committee? 1. Would you be so kind as to send me the texts that I received your “Jewish” summary. We have begun to take issue with the Club? Not in order to censor them, work on it. I cannot surmise, much less promise, any- but to speed up the publication of discussion. As for thing, but I think that it is worth a try. Contrary to mali- myself, I made four copies of the Club: one for cious gossip, I do not misplace manuscripts, and I pro- Kultura, the second for myself, and the remaining pose that you send me the English translation of Szczeni∏ce two were meant for Florczak and Bobiƒski; but you lata. Manès Sperber is my main contact; he advises published it so fast that there was no necessity to mail Calmann-Levy and knows English, so that he could evalu- the ms. to them. ate the book from the translation. So far as Ziele na kraterze And so I thought that perhaps we should recapitulate goes, I think Erdman is right. Do you have it in English, the discussion to-date. From the editorial standpoint, or only in Polish? If the latter, please send me a summary. it might be right on target, because people have short Please do this before you leave; it will be necessary to go memories. If you do not have copies of materials sent a-begging to the publishing houses which are now get- to you [à propos of the Club], tell the authors to send ting ready for the fall and winter season. such copies to me. I have not received any additional comments on the 2. ….[omittted] Club. Here among Parisian Jews (the journalists) your 3. I suggest you send Kultura (the issue containing the article made a good impression and even brought in a few conversation with Stern) to Menachem Begin who subscriptions. I sent that issue to Begin as suggested. We heads another and stronger Jewish organization, the are now beginning to mail Kultura [to Israel]. To start Irgun. He can be reached at the Knesset where he with, 50 copies. Not bad. heads his party’s caucus (he is a law graduate from Thus unfortunately, there were no more comments Poland). about your article. I turned down Glinka’s commentary, but you already have that. In the April issue, I shall print a February 27 good rejoinder by Chmielowiec. The issue is now in print. My dear Melchior: I’ll send you proofs. The idea of a summary and general response is good, and I shall be glad to publish it. Thank you for your letter of February 18…. I am glad The “Polish Chronicle” section is a headache. I try you decided to go to Canada. I do not think I exaggerate and try and nothing comes out. Perhaps I can finally in- comparing this eventual book with Monte Cassino. Your troduce it in the May issue. book will be an introduction to the subsequent first book Thanks for Koestler. Can I get that review some time on overseas Polonia. This is virgin territory, and since in- in March? ternational power has moved over to the United States, Warm greetings, this miserable Polonia will play an increasingly impor- Jerzy Giedroyc tant role. Not to speak of the fact that communist Poland, whose upper classes have been destroyed, will probably March 8 appear more attractive [to the Polish American peasants] My dear Melchior: than the old Poland. Would you be willing to write an article, a report actu- I am worried about the promised review of Koestler’s ally, on your first visit to Canada? Such a report would be books, and I also wanted to let you know about the situa- important to us. First, because Canada is a center of dreams tion concerning your books. It does not look good. of so many Poles in Europe (they all want to emigrate Calmann-Levy said that he has enough Jewish topics (he there), and second, because your article would fit like a had just published three titles), besides Koestler monopo- glove that English-language issue of Kultura for which lizes this publishing house. Gallimard was interested, but 648 THE SARMATIAN REVIEW September 1999 having looked at your summary, its editor made nasty I went to Józio’s Polish lecture. He was introduced as comments. You did not really send us a summary; be- a Colonel who would talk about the “masquerade of Pol- sides, the copy is terrible, with parts of it missing. They ish officers at Katyn” (it was supposed to be “massacre”). want to know the following: I also went to his first English lecture. He tried to pro- a. has the book ever been published nounce the words according to a textbook, and he got b. do you have an agent in the United States [expletive omitted]. The listeners perspired and rushed c. if you do, send them his address for Coca-Cola. The discussion part was lively. The Ameri- d. if you do not, send the ms. to M. Robert Gueneau cans asked questions, while Józio usually started his an- (Gallimard, 5, rue Sebastien Bottin) mentioning Paweł swer with a couple of lines from [the poet] Norwid. The Zdziechowski’s name. He is my contact with translator spent five minutes translating these lines, and it Gallimard. went on like that. The good-hearted Orłowski, our former Perhaps it would be better if you send the ms. to us ambassador to Budapest, tried to comfort Józio by saying and let us dispatch it further. This way, there is a better that only ten percent of his words remained unintelligible. chance that it will not get lost. I hope this would not be Unfortunately, these ten percent contained all the subjects the eighth carbon copy; they really do not like that. Imag- and all the predicates. But he pronounced his conjunc- ine that Marynia Czapska, who tried to show your “sum- tions perfectly. Whenever he said “and,” the audience re- mary” to Daniel Halevy, was told to bring in a ms. or stop gained hope of understanding him, especially if a “but” wasting his time. came shortly afterwards. The Americans left satisfied that I think that Ziele na kraterze has a chance, so please they finally understood what Russia is all about. send it in too. If you have a translation, fine, if not, at least Well, what really happened could only be told by some- a good summary and a few translated chapters can act as one who is both a St. Francis and a crook. But altogether, bait. I will be able to send you Chmielowiec’s polemic it wasn’t too bad. only on March 11; I’ll use air mail. Mieroszewski is sweat- You asked me about Koestler. It is two in the morn- ing out some kind of polemic with Krystek — I asked ing, and I have not packed yet. I go to Canada tomorrow him to send you a copy directly. There were no further for a month. press comments except for a silly note in MyÊl Polska [a Who is Chmielowiec and who is Krystek? right-wing periodical in London] which alleged that when Warm greetings, Florczak returned to Poland, you dissolved the Club be- M. Waƒkowicz cause of a shortage of members. Nothing new here: Józio is mad at me, I am mad at March 30 him, and we both dream of the dollar manna which some- My dear Melchior: how does not materialize. What about Canada? Thank you for your letter and for the ms. which I re- Warm greetings, ceived today. Beautifully packed. I shall guard it as some- Jerzy Giedroyc thing precious. Shortly after Easter I shall visit Gallimard’s with Zdziechowski. There is still another publisher named March 11 Editions du Pavois who has suddenly developed an un- My dear Jerzy: healthy appetite for things Polish. So please send me the English translation of Szczeni∏ce lata and a summary of Thanks for your initiatives. I am sending you the small- Ziele na kraterze. Also, please answer the questions which est and the most “dangerous” of my Jewish books. It deals I posed in the previous letter: do you have an agent etc. with Judaism, and since this religion is so peculiar, it is This is important for publishers here. Maybe nothing will difficult not to crack a few jokes about it. come of this, but one should try. In any case, you can be Perhaps the Gallic Jews have a Gallic sense of humor; sure that the mss. you sent will not be lost. generally speaking, I find Jews to be sensitive, suspicious I am very curious about your Canadian impressions. and ready to take offense. [Kultura’s Canadian friend] Radomski wrote us that your At present, I have only one copy [of this book]. The lecture went very well. I have no doubt that you will pick translator promised four copies, but already the second up a thousand or so new subscriptions for Kultura (ha carbon is illegible. So if you find out that nothing can be ha). The article [about you] in Zwiàzkowiec was also nice. done, I beg you to send it back immediately (of course Since you plan to go to Buffalo for a guest tour, I beg not by air mail). you for an article about the Franciscan order there. I re- September 1999 THE SARMATIAN REVIEW 649 ally need it very much, and I do not know of anyone who of brochures (not too long) on fundamental ideological could do it but you. matters; we would not even touch the current political All I know about Chmielowiec is that he is a protégé events. I have in mind such works as I.M. Bocheƒski’s of Zawadowski (the one in Lebanon), and Zawadowski essay on Marxism, Józio’s essay on painting, Régamey’s considers him to be “decent but unintelligent.” I know essay on music; then a treatise on biology, on Western even less about Krystek because he is in Australia. literatures etc. I think such topics will be not only most Your description of Józio’s lecture made us all roll unwelcome by the [communist] regime, but they also will with laughter. Literally. Even Marynia Czapska laughed, be of interest to the public that becomes more and more although she usually cannot stand “profaning” serious separated from Western books and more and more sub- things. jected to the heavy indoctrination of Marxism. One more Józio recently fell silent. So far, he has found money advantage: if the regime catches a group of partisans or for two issues [of Kultura]. I begin to sweat thinking of finds a few guns hidden in a private home, or a radio the future. transmitter, they can make it into a show trial. But to ar- Warm greetings, rest people for reading say a brochure about Simone Weil Jerzy Giedroyc and organizing a public trial for the “culprit” would be P.S. I need that article about Canada by May 15. inconvenient for them for propaganda reasons. So far, I have had opportunities to send to Poland a few hundred June 12 copies of this or that. What do you think? If you agree Dear Melchior: with me, I have two requests: 1. Suggestions about the topics of these brochures (translations are acceptable), and Excuse my late answer, but troubles are mounting, the 2. Please get in touch and talk to the management of those heat is unbearable and I am not in the best of moods. This companies which produce varitypers. I wrote about it to slows down work. Józio but got no answer. I think that given the complica- In spite of all the difficulties, I have decided to hang tions of his trip, he simply was unable to think about any- on to Kultura. Paraphrasing Shakespeare, stubbornness thing else. If this sort of thing came through, our activi- is all, and thus I should succeed. I am researching the so- ties could be significantly broadened. called varitypers [unidentified] which, or so Jerzy As to tightening up the Third Way Club, you are abso- St∏powski tells me, will revolutionize printing by mak- lutely right. A good idea. What is going on in Poland is ing it much cheaper. He says that two such machines would your inspiration, for which I thank you. I have had a lot of allow me not only to publish Kultura but also to start pub- positive responses. But to collect materials is difficult. lishing books. I would be grateful for your thoughts on “Connoisseur” is a collective pen name of those who col- the subject. In addition to Kultura’s gain, this could also laborate with Dziennik Polski. No single author writes be of great service to the underground press behind the the Chronicle. I know very little about Piàtkowski. From Iron Curtain—when the moment is right. As I have ascer- what I know, he is supposed to be a very decent man. He tained through my random contacts with the visiting had a bit of money which he used for Tygodnik Ilustrowany Varsovians, they would be most interested in buying such published by Samopomoc Lotnicza. He has ONR sym- a machine and smuggling it into [Soviet-occupied] Po- pathies. He did not steal money from the Union but he land. It occurs to me that perhaps it might be useful to go “lent” some to his ideological leaders or superiors; they to Mr. Coxhead [unidentified] and propose to him that if were supposed to return it but did not, and he assumed we get two varitypers from him, we would popularize responsibility without mentioning their names. I wrote to them behind the Iron Curtain in a proper way. Thus we Mieroszewski to collect some gossip and send it to you. shall create potential customers for him there. We could I do not have Pstrokoƒski’s private address, but you give him publicity through an article in Kultura about can write c/of The Editors, Od A do Z of which he is a co- varitypers. Of course we would say not a word about their editor. possible use for underground work, but instead present …. them as a competition for the international printing car- One request. You live close to Siedlecki who is a tel. We could also produce here printed matter to be dis- Kultura subscriber. He has not renewed his subscription tributed in [Soviet-occupied] Poland, and we could train even though we sent him a reminder. Please prevail so a dozen or so persons from behind the Iron Curtain in that he does renew it. using the machines properly. With regard to underground Finally, a big request. Józio told you about his finan- printing, I think the best way would be to produce a series cial failures. Still, his trip opens up possibilities and I have 650 THE SARMATIAN REVIEW September 1999 decided to go with him next time, which means in the I am sending you a project of an appeal concerning winter. I hope for political and financial results. Among enlarging the circle of Kultura subscribers. I assume that others, I plan to get some money in a banal way, one that trying to appeal to civic virtue is pointless. People are too never brings great amounts but needs to be tried, I think. lazy to engage in persuading others to subscribe to Kultura. We publish 2,200 copies of each issue, and we sell over But they do spend money on presents, so perhaps the idea 1,600. I would like to write a letter to all subscribers, of a present might work. Offering subscriptions as gifts is asking them to find three new subscribers, and telling them common in the United States…. that if that happens, we shall finally become financially So long, independent. I think that such a letter will bring better M. Waƒkowicz results than publishing an appeal in Kultura. The letter has to be written in a proper way. Joe is too sentimental and too Norwid-like. Stempowski will make a treatise out of it, and I simply cannot write. I am sorry to abuse BOOKS BOOKS and Periodicals your kindness in this way, knowing how busy you are, Received but I am counting on you. Please let us have such a letter. Tajne oblicze GL-AL, PPR: Dokumenty (the secret Warm greetings, face of the People’s Guard—People’s Army, the Polish Jerzy Giedroyc Workers’ Party). 3 vols. Edited with an introduction by Marek J. Chodakiewicz, Piotr Gontarczyk and Leszek June 18 Žebrowski. Warsaw. Burchard Edition (01-673 My dear Jerzy: Warszawa, ul. PodleÊna 15). 1997. Volume 1, 261 pages; volume 2, 227 pages; volume 3, 286 pages. Indices. I am devastated by [writer] Ksawery’s [Pruszyƒski] Paper. No price given. In Polish. death. For me, this is like an unfinished book whose plot A collection of previously unavailable documents passionately interested me. He lived off the regimes which about the Soviet-shaped and controlled Polish Workers’ he treated roughly and which felt impressed by his mis- Party formed after the Polish Communist Party had been treatment; but the communist regime would not have taken dissolved and its leaders executed by Moscow. The docu- such behavior for long, and I really was curious how it all ments reveal that the PPR was a Soviet agency whose would end. Then—I still do not know how he eventually real goals were known to a small circle of the initiated, will be judged. He was a man of great talent. I have al- while ordinary members were fed the pabulum supplied ways said that, and I am not repeating it now just because by the Moscow managers, namely, that the party supported he is dead. He was often dismissed as a man without char- workers’ interests and was anti-Nazi. In fact, the military acter. Indeed, he did piggish things, and I sometimes was arm of the party, the People’s Guard (Gwardia Ludowa) a victim myself. He embodied greed and disloyalty, and and People’s Army (Armia Ludowa), murdered “reaction- he liked scheming. But most of all, he had a marvelous ary” Poles from the anti-Soviet military underground, as ability to absorb life. This ability was his chief asset, and well as unarmed civilians deemed reactionary by the So- he cultivated it. But we do not live in a Renaissance-like viet order-givers. The leaders of the PG and PA main- epoch, but rather have entered the new Dark Ages; and in tained a sophisticated apparatus of deception which re- such circumstances he was bound not to last long. I was mains virtually unknown to this day, the editors allege. really fascinated by his incessant chasing after the easy Each volume contains a hundred or so annotated docu- life and paying with what his talent could deliver; but he ments with archival sources listed. The documents include needed that intense life not only for pleasure but also for reports of various PG-PA units on the county and village experience. He carried tremendous possibilities within level, reports of executions of members of the Polish un- himself, he could still have sold himself for large sums derground who fought the Nazis, reports of burglaries (the and could have had a precipitous moral downfall. Hear- PA and PG partly maintained themselves by burglarizing ing of his demise, I felt like a spectator at a bull fight that Polish homes), propaganda documents, and others. was interrupted by rain. God’s job is difficult, and it would The Paradise Myth in Eighteenth-century Russia: have been even more difficult if God were Polish. If I Utopian Patterns in Early Secular Russian Literature were God, however, I would opine that Pruszyƒski’s ac- and Culture, by Stephen Lessing Baehr. Stanford, CA. count was ultimately in the black. Stanford University Press (Stanford, CA 94305). 1991. Excuse these random remarks. Going back to busi- xiv + 308 pages. Two appendices. Index. Hardcover. ness: Humanity has always dreamed about paradise, and Rus- September 1999 THE SARMATIAN REVIEW 651 sia is no exception. The author concentrates on various and journals. Members of the Institute need to secure Western tales deriving from classical, biblical, and patristic visiting positions in the Departments of Political Sci- traditions, and on the ways they penetrated eighteenth- ence and in Slavic Departments at American, British century Russian culture. He discovers the paradise motif and German universities in particular. Where are the in virtually all eighteenth-century writers and versifiers, American Polish donors who would underwrite a se- while noting its bifurcation between writers who ries of fellowships for such visits? uncritically embraced it, assuming that a good tsar was Na tropach Waƒkowicza, by Aleksandra Ziółkowska- essential to it (Sumarokov), and those who, like Boehm. Warsaw. Prószyƒski i S-ka (02-651 Warszawa, Radishchev, were critical of a possibility of a truly good ul. Garažowa 7). 1999. 362 pages. Index. In Polish. life in conditions of tsarist autocracy. The paradise myth A loosely-structured book on Melchior Waƒkowicz, dissipated in the turbulent nineteenth century; according with many digressions concerning Polish social life in to the author, Pushkin’s “Bronze Horseman” reflects rather intelligentsia circles before and after World War 2, by a the myth of a “paradise lost.” But the Slavophile myth close friend of Waƒkowicz who herself is a prolific writer and numerous other brief reappearances of this motif tes- and is considered by some to be Waƒkowicz’s artistic heir. tify to its enduring attraction. Particularly interesting are the sections dealing with Arkusz: Miesi∏cznik Kulturalny Poznaƒ - Warszawa - Waƒkowicz’s relationship with Kultura and its editor. Kraków - Wrocław. A monthly. No. 5 (90), May 1999. Zofia Kossak na emigracji, co-authored and ed- Edited by Bogusława Latawiec. ISSN 1231 - 9763. ited by Mirosława Pałaszewska. Warsaw. Oficyna Editorial offices: 60-782 Poznaƒ, ul. Grunwaldzka 19. Wydawnicza Rytm (ul. Górczewska 8, 01-180 Foreign subscription Zł 16.80/year (ca. $5). In Polish. Warszawa). 1998. 397 pages. Index, illustrations. We have been receiving Arkusz for some time now. Its Hardcover. In Polish. quality is improving steadily. The current issue contains A critical biography and a collection of letters by and interesting poems (and drawings) by Kiejstut Bereênicki, to Zofia Kossak-Szatkowska, a heroine of the Polish Re- a reading of Tadeusz Róžewicz’s poetry by Andrzej sistance and a writer of note who gained popularity be- Skrendo, an interview with Professor Hubert Ostrowski fore World War 2 as the author of novels about the bru- by Piotr Łuszczykiewicz, remembrances of Leningrad by talities of the October Revolution in Ukraine. She is also “la Marquise de Custine,” a penetrating article on the known for her work on behalf of Jews during World War Polish Russophile Adam Gurowski (by Arkadiusz 2. Her works were banned in Soviet-occupied Poland from Pacholski) and several other worthwhile pieces by, among which she escaped in 1945. Her strongly Catholic views others, Edward Balcerzan and Anna Bolecka. All this on alienated her from the leftward-leaning Polish émigré 16 newspaper-size pages. circles and limited her access to émigré periodicals and O ideach, Ïe złowrogie bywajà: Recepcja rosyjskiej readers. Yet she has a great deal to say, and the present myÊli filozoficzno-politycznej w Polsce po roku 1989 sketch of her life and a selection from her letters deserve (about ideas, some of them malignant: the reception of attention. Russian philosophical thought in Poland after 1989), by Marek Styczyƒski. Łódê. Instytut Studiów Other Books Received: Mi∏dzynarodowych Uniwersytetu Łódzkiego- Gombrowicz’s Grimaces: Modernism, Gender, Nationality. Wydawnictwo Ibidem (ul. Krótka 6, 95-004 Kurowice k/ Edited by Ewa Plonowska Ziarek. Buffalo, NY: State U of Łodzi). 1999. 197 pages. Index. Paper. In Polish. New York Press, 1998. viii + 327 pages. Introduction, Index. Paper. A collection of essays probing postcommunist changes A collection of papers on one of the twentieth-century’s most in Russia and the possible directions which Russia might challenging writers. A review to follow. take in the future. The author invokes the major thinkers Lily of the Valley, by Suzanne Strempek Shea. New York. of Russian history, as well as their major contemporary Pocket Books. 1999. 273 pages. Polish interpreters such as Andrzej Walicki, Grzegorz A novel by a rising Polish American writer. A review to follow. Przebinda, and others. While accusing the West of mis- Zukunft als Geschichte: Historisch-politische Analysen und understanding Russia, however, the author does not fully Prognosen zum Undergang des Sowjetkommunismus, 1980- succeed in adumbrating a conceptual framework in which 1991 [future as history: historical and political analyses and his own thought would become comprehensible in the prognoses related to the disintegration of Soviet communism, West. His work (as well as the work of other members of 1980-1991], by Imanuel Geiss. Stuttgart. Franz Steiner Verlag. the Sovietology Institute at the University of Łódê) would 1998. 308 pages. Paper. In German. profit from closer exchanges with Western universities A scholarly analysis of events in Poland, USSR, Germany and Europe generally in the 1990s by a noted German histo- 652 THE SARMATIAN REVIEW September 1999 rian whose debate with Jürgen Habermas on the future of Ger- compiled by Earl James Lasworth. Marshall, Texas. 1999. 115 many gave him wide publicity. A review to follow. pages. Numerous photographs. Comparative Literature: Theory, Method, Application, by This self-published book is in the best tradition of gentleman Steven Tötösy de Zepentek. Studies in Comparative Literature scholarship. It is lively and informative, and it offers a good vol. 18. Series Editors: C.C. Barfoot and Theo D’haen. insight into the subject. A model of volunteer work which we Amsterdam-Atlanta, GA: Rodopi 1998. 297 pages. Index. would like warmly to applaud. $49.50. Polish Champions: Sketches in Human Dignity, by Zbigniew A review to follow. Tyburski. Pulaski, WI. Franciscan Publishers and Printers. 1998. Szkolny słownik literatury staropolskiej, by Janusz Goliƒski, 203 pages. Index, maps. Paper. Roman Mazurkiewicz and Piotr Wilczek. Katowice. Videograf A well-intentioned book providing several dozen vignettes II (40-153 Katowice, al. W. Korfantego 191, of notable Polish politicians, writers, and scholars from the email:[email protected]). 1999. 352 pages. In- eleventh century to the present. Suitable for high school stu- dex. Hardcover. In Polish. dents. A most useful compendium on “old” Polish writers and art- Prasa Polska: Przeglàd najlepszych tekstów z najlepszych ists, i.e., those of the Middle Ages, the Renaissance and the gazet. Paris. Vol. 5, No. 4/55. In Polish. Baroque. A most readable text dealing with periods of history Polish-language texts by Polish and American journalists and crucial to the modern Polish identity. Recommended for the writers. general reader. Kuchnia erotyczna, by Tadeusz Olszaƒski. Illustrations by Artur Âlady egzystencji: szkice o polskich pisarzach emigracyjnych, Goł∏biowski. Warsaw. Iskry. 1994.120 pages. Hardcover. In Pol- by Piotr Wilczek. Katowice. Âlàsk Publishers (al. W. ish. Korfantego 51, 41-160 Katowice). 1997. 107 pages. In Polish. A semi-serious and elegant chat about the aphrodisiac value of Essays on Jan Lechoƒ, Witold Gombrowicz, Czeslaw Milosz various foods, with recipes and history going back to the ancient and Adam Czerniawski. Greeks and Romans. The best recipe for ambrosia this side of Mount M jak Mickiewicz, by Tomasz Łubieƒski. Warsaw. Olympus. Bertelsmann Media Co. 1998. 317 pages. Index. Hardcover. In Polish. Idei v Rossii A very personal biography of Poland’s most popular Romantic poet sketched out against a detailed background of European Idee w Rosji history. The book contains many insights about Mickiewicz Ideas in Russia and his time, and it succeeds in capturing the development of Mickiewicz’s personality. Leksykon rosyjsko-polsko-angielski. Vol. 1. Edited by Andrzej Mikołaj Czernyszewski: póêny wnuk OÊwiecenia, by Grzegorz de Lazari. Warsaw: Semper (ul. Bednarska 20A, 00-321 Przebinda. Katowice. Wydawnictwo Âlàsk (al. W. Korfantego Warszawa, [email protected]). 1999. 492 pages. Paper. 51, 41-160 Katowice). 1996. 103 pages. Paper. In Polish. A study of Russia’s famous progressive writer, one of the radical members of the intelligentsia who prepared the ground Andrzej Walicki for twentieth-century events. The study is authored by a Polish The lexicon Ideas in Russia, edited by Professor scholar famous for his interpretation of Russian culture as Andrzej de Lazari from the University of Łódê, is an am- deeply rooted in Eastern Orthodoxy. Truth be told, bitious undertaking. Its aim is to contribute to a deeper Chernyshevskii (we use the American transliteration) was a understanding of the Russian mentality and culture by half-baked scholar, and his knowledge of Western philosophy providing updated information on, and interpretation of, was fragmentary, as has usually been the case in Russian intel- lectual life. the Russian religious, philosophical and political thought Quo Vadis nowa ero? New Age w Polsce, by Hanna KaraÊ. from the Middle Ages to the present day. It is a trilingual Warsaw. Pallotine Publishing House (02-914 Warszawa, ul. publication, containing Russian, Polish, and English ver- Âw. Bonifacego 9). 1999. 373 pages. Paper. In Polish. sions of each entry. It is conceived as a four-volume pub- A critical analysis of the inroads which the New Age trends lication with some 600 entries, each volume containing have made in Poland. entries arranged in alphabetical order, from the first to the Rozszerzenie NATO w Kongresie Stanów Zjednoczonych, last letter of the Cyrillic alphabet. The last volume will 1993-1998 (the enlargement of NATO in the U.S. Congress, provide detailed indices covering the entire publication. 1993-1999), by Bogusław W. Winid. Warsaw. American Stud- The recently published first volume, subject of the ies Center, University of Warsaw (Aleje NiepodległoÊci 22, present review, is the work of 41 scholars: historians, lit- 02-653 Warszawa). 1999. Index. 121 pages. Paper. The book discusses in chronological order the major con- erary historians, theologians, philosophers, and political frontations over NATO in the House of Representatives and in scientists, Most of them are Polish, 14 are Russians (in- the Senate. cluding the reviewer of the volume, Boris Egorov), one Polonian Settlements in Texas: An Illustrated Chronology, person (Vladimir Gonec) represents the Czech Republic, September 1999 THE SARMATIAN REVIEW 653 and Ewa M. Thompson of Rice University is the sole con- intriguingly alien, but not entirely incomprehensible; tributor from the West. The editors, i.e., Professor de Lazari something definitely different but, at the same time, fa- and his Research Center at the University of Łódê, did miliar enough to be understood “from inside”; something not attempt to elaborate any consensus of opinions; hence threatening but, nevertheless, capable of evoking a feel- many authors represent quite different views. In some ing of attraction and intellectual fascination. Hence, a sort cases, the book offers alternative, or complementary, ex- of cultural “essentialism” in thinking about Russia often planations of the same idea. appears in Poland quite spontaneously, as something ob- Nevertheless, despite this programmatic endorsement vious and simply taken for granted. For different reasons, of interpretive pluralism, the majority of authors repre- the same is true of Russia. The long period of self-im- sent in fact different versions of one broad school of posed isolation from the West, the strong native tradition thought: a school subscribing to the “essentialist” approach of seeing Russia as the opposite of Europe and, last but to Russian culture, that is, assuming the existence of a not least, the painful failure of the program of “returning specifically Russian, culturally determined mentality, to the common European home” created conditions for a stressing Russia’s essential “otherness” from Europe and, powerful revival of different versions of the “Russian therefore, placing Russia outside Europe, as a separate, Idea,” attributing to Russia a unique and incomparable qualitatively different civilization. An extreme represen- historical fate. Another consequence of the widespread tative of this school was the Polish historian, Jan disillusionment in the westernizing reforms is a spectacular Kucharzewski, author of the monumental work, From the growth of Russian political nationalism playing with the White Tsardom to the Red (7 vols.), available in a one- idea of Russia’s separate destiny. All these factors explain volume condensed version titled The Origins of Modern the increased interest in the specific features of Russia’s Russia (New York: Polish Institute of Arts and Sciences, cultural identity which united the Polish and Russian au- 1948). In the West, the leading exponent of the idea of thors of Lazari’s lexicon. Russia’s otherness is the Polish-born American historian, A short review article is not the place in which it would Richard Pipes, who explains Russian history as largely be possible to discuss individual contributions of so many predetermined by the unique cultural legacy of the Mus- authors. Therefore, I shall limit myself to a brief charac- covite patrimonial autocracy. terization of the main themes of this rich collective work. The most controversial is the series of entries dealing This volume should be of interest not only because of not with ideas but with those cultural and social phenom- what it says about Russian culture, but also because of ena which were seen by the editor as peculiarly Russian what it says about Russian studies in contemporary Po- and carrying a specific cultural meaning. Thus, rather land. unexpectedly, we find in the book such entries as “dvorianstvo” (V. Romanov) or “balalaika” (Lazari): evi- Such views, however, have not become dominant in the dently, the editor saw the Russian nobility, as well as the United States. At American universities, Russian Stud- popular musical instrument called the “balalaika,” as ies are treated, as a rule, as a part of European studies. something peculiarly Russian, shedding light on some dis- Too much stress on Russia’s distinctiveness is seen some- tinctive features of Russian mentality. More obvious are times as a regrettable remnant of cold war attitudes. The the reasons for including a number of entries on the broadly view of Russia as a distinct civilization gained support in conceived semiology of Russian culture, such as “Alpha- the influential Clash of Civilizations by Samuel P. Hun- bet,” “The black double-headed eagle,” “Calendar,” “Her- tington (Simon & Schuster, 1996), but did not become aldry” and “National Flag.” All these entries, written by widely accepted. The last book by Martin Malia: Russia the Polish semiologist and literary historian, Jerzy Faryno, Under Western Eyes (Harvard University Press, 1999), deserve to be seen as an original contribution to our knowl- strongly critical of essentialist thinking about Russia and edge of the subject, providing a wealth of interesting and of interpreting it in terms of the “West-East cultural gra- useful information on the semiological context of Rus- dient” seems to reflect the opinions of a very significant sian ideas. number of American historians. On the whole, it is fair to Closely related to this series is an impressive number of say that the very problem of Russia’s relationship to Eu- entries dealing with Russian religious life and religious rope does not arouse great passions among American in- thought, such as two entries on “Antichrist” (Konstantin tellectuals. Isupov and Elžbieta Przybył), “Dvoeverie” (Father Henryk It is not so in Poland, and not so in Russia. In the Polish Paprocki), “Space” (Ivan Esaulov), “Heretical Thought” perception “Russianness” appears, as a rule, as something (Urszula Wójcicka), “Holiness” (three entries by Bishop 654 THE SARMATIAN REVIEW September 1999 Szymon Romaƒczuk, H. Paprocki, and J. Faryno), “Old A good example of this awareness is offered in the two Belief” (Hanna Kowalska), “Starchestvo” (Józef Smaga), entries on “Moscow - The Third Rome.” One of them, “Strastotierpstvo” (Sz. Romaƒczuk), or two entries on written by Lazari, treats this idea as “the archetype of “Folly in Christ” (Sz. Romaƒczuk and Ewa Thompson). Russian nationalism,” whereas the other, written by The interpretive difference between alternative entries are Elžbieta Przybył, stresses its purely religious content. sometimes very sharp and significant. E.g., in the two Closely connected with the entries on Russian national- entries on “sobornost’,” the Russian scholar, Ivan Esaulov, ism is a very informative entry on “Anti-Semitism” by defines “sobornost’” as “one of the four atttributes of the Kraków historian of Soviet Russia, Józef Smaga. He Orthodoxy formulated at the second Ecumenical Coun- is also the principal author of the series of entries on Rus- cil, whereas A. de Lazari sees in it one of the most impor- sian Communism: “Bolshevism,” “Menshevism,” tant categories of nationalistic Russian thought. “Lenin,” “Scientific Communism,” and “The Dictator- Another small but very compact thematic group deals ship of the Proletariat.” This last entry is somewhat one- with Russian attitudes toward law: “Law” in general sided because it ignores the history of the notion of “the (Lazari), law as “acts, regulations” (Esaulov), “Legal sys- dictatorship of the proletariat in classical Marxism.” Oth- tems” (Faryno) and “Canon law” (two entries: by Faryno erwise, however, Smaga’s entries represent very solid and and Paprocki). Predictably, the Polish authors stress the reliable knowledge. His entry on Menshevism ends with continuing importance in the Russian tradition of enmity the interesting observation that while the Bolshevik lead- toward law (Lazari), and of treating law as merely an in- ers consisted mostly of Russians, the leading group of strument of the ruler (Faryno), seeing this as a negative Mensheviks was made up of Jews. This fact, emphasized feature of the Russian cultural heritage. Esaulov, how- by Stalin, “contradicts the widespread belief that Jews ever, tries to give it a positive connotation. He reminds us played the most destructive role in the bolshevization of that in the Russian tradition, the category of law (zakon) Russia after 1917.” was held from the earliest times in opposition to “grace” The largest group of entries deals with the history of (blagodat’) and sees this as consonant with the truly Chris- Russian philosophy and social thought, i.e., with the sub- tian, Orthodox values. ject known in the United States as “Russian intellectual A very important group of entries discusses different history.” It includes a synthetic article on “Old Russian aspects of Russian nationalism. All these entries have been Thought” (by Grzegorz Przebinda), two ambitious sur- written by one author: Andrzej de Lazari. Read in the chro- veys of the Russian perception of ancient philosophy nological (not alphabetical) order, they present a coher- (“Aristotle in Russia” by Przebinda and “Plato in Russia” ent development of proto-nationalistic and nationalistic by Sergei Goncharov), a few entries on specific catego- ideas in Russia: from “Moscow-The Third Rome” through ries and concepts (such as “Rational Egoism” by “Narod,””Narodnost’,” “Official Nationality,” Przebinda, or “Superfluous Men” by Krystyna Chojnicka), “Pochvennichestvo,” to “National Bolshevism,” and a great number of entries on individual thinkers. Nine- “Eurasianism” and “Russian Fascism.” All of them com- teenth-century Russian thought received thorough cover- petently summarize the vast international literature on the age in Janusz Dobieszewski’s entries on the Slavophiles subject, adding to it the results of the author’s own re- (K. Aksakov and A. Khomiakov), and Populists (P. Lavrov search in this field. The author’s original contribution is and P. Tkachev), Przebinda’s entry on N. Chernyshevskii, especially visible in the analysis of the different mean- Marian Broda’s entry on Leont’ev, and Wasilij Szczukin’s ings of the Russian terms narod and narodnost’, and in entries on the Russian radicals (A. Gertsen) and liberals. the entry on pochvennichestvo, or the “return to the soil” The three entries by Lucjan Suchanek (“Chaadaev,” movement. Lazari’s interpretations of Russian national- “Pecherin,” and “Simeon Polotskii”) turn attention to the ism are often directly polemical; he is extremely critical problem of Catholic influences on Russian thought. Es- of the nationalistic (“Russophile”) trends in Soviet and pecially impressive are the entries on the Silver Age in post-Soviet Russia, sometimes exaggerating their strength Russian culture: Sławomir Mazurek’s entries on Russian and real influence. But, in the entry on “Yanov, Aleksandr,” religious philosophy (“Catastrophism,” “Nikolai he warns also against the “Russophobic” demonizations Berdiaev,” “Simon Frank” and “Vasilii Rozanov”), Marek of Russian nationalism, stressing that, first, it has many Styczyƒski’s entry on “Aleksandr Bogdanov” (as well as faces, and second, it should not be presented as a domi- his alternative entry on Berdiaev), and Jerzy KapuÊcik’s nant, quintessential tendency of contemporary Russian entries on “God-building” and “God-seeking.” thought. And, most importantly, he is fully aware of the And this is not all. The lack of space makes it impos- possibility and legitimacy of alternative interpretations. sible to mention all entries and the names of authors. September 1999 THE SARMATIAN REVIEW 655 On the whole, Ideas in Russia is an impressive achieve- into practice. Poland became a member of NATO in April ment. It is remarkable that the penchant for an “essential- 1999. This development can benefit both sides, although ist” understanding of Russian mentality which defined admittedly finding security is primarily in Poland’s inter- the general conception of the book, was pursued with est. moderation and tolerance for different views. The book POLAND’S OPTIONS presents not only the leading exponents of “the Russian Popular support for NATO membership has been over- idea” but also a number of Russian Occidentalists, among whelming in Poland. A February 1998 poll found that them Boris Chicherin (an entry by Szczukin), a thinker 80% of Poles favored NATO membership, while only 50% who, in Berdiaev’s view, was completely alien to every- of Czechs and Hungarians did.(1) As a Canadian journal- thing distinctively “Russian.” Thus, despite an emphasis ist put it, “most ordinary Poles still resent the years of on the enduring presence of some specific features of domination by Russia, and they look at their entry into Russian intellectual culture, it is up to the readers to de- NATO as a guarantee of freedom.”(2) cide if Russia should be seen as an eternal prisoner of its Despite such persistent and widespread pro-NATO history. sentiment, the Polish political elite has been divided on Unfortunately, the publisher has not done a good job. the issue. The predominant group supports NATO mem- The book lacks illustrations (very much needed in the bership. Liberals, Christian Democrats, certain conserva- case of visible symbols like flags or heraldic emblems), tives, some Christian nationalists, socialists, and main- and falls apart after one reading. But its authors deserve stream ex-Communists have lined up behind NATO. It is praise and encouragement. Their work should be of inter- important to stress, however, that a psychological break- est to Western scholars not only because of what it says through was achieved under the staunchly anti-Commu- about Russian culture but also because of what it says nist government of Prime Minister Jan Olszewski who about Russian studies in contemporary Poland. The best unequivocally proclaimed his government’s desire to entries prove that Poland, despite its reputation of shun- bring Poland into NATO.(3) ning everything Russian, has produced in this field quite The path to NATO had been tortuous at least for some a few original, mature scholars. The bibliographical ref- of the Polish political elite. As late as March 1991, the top erences which accompany the entries show that Polish military brass, all former Communists, touted the idea of literature on the subject is unexpectedly rich and merits “armed neutrality” (zbrojna neutralnoÊç).(4) This was serious attention. ∆ undoubtedly in conjunction with the then-President Lech Walesa’s idea of a “NATO-bis,” or a shadow NATO, for East Central Europe. According to this utopian scenario, Poland would develop a civil defense force and a small Poland and the Future of NATO professional military where preference would be given to individual tactical weapons (e.g. Stinger rockets) over the expensive weapons systems. Ultimately, Poland would Marek Jan Chodakiewicz seek to acquire nuclear weapons to guard itself from for- eign invasion. This is an updated portion of an address delivered at the University of Currently, it seems that only the radical populists, an- Virginia on February 26, 1999. archists, nationalists, Communists, and a few conserva- In the late 1940s an anonymous Polish wit introduced tives (the Staƒczyk group) mistrust or oppose NATO. On a rhyme that aptly summarized the Polish predicament the left, it is either a desire to return to the Soviet yoke or and hopes at the time: a distaste for any international involvement. Some on the extreme right stress the need to continue a pro-Russian Panie Truman, spuÊç ta bania policy which, they allege, was the hallmark of Poland’s bo tu jest nie do wytrzymania National Democratic Party under the Second Republic [Mr. Truman drop the bomb (1918-1939). Others have reacted against NATO because we can’t bear it anymore] of their resentment towards the European Union.(5) How- ever, no party has been able to present a viable political This rhyme reflects a persistent trend in Polish think- alternative to NATO. Yet, it was only with the electoral ing: the US is the leader of the Free World, and the salva- victory of the anti-Communists in 1997 that NATO ex- tion of Poland lies with America. This pro-American sen- pansion became a reality. According to The New York timent now stands a chance to be transformed from dreams Times, “a NATO official said that ‘Poland would have 656 THE SARMATIAN REVIEW September 1999 been a real problem’ if there had not been a change of As The Wall Street Journal put it, “Poland has a bigger government. ‘If the former Communists had stayed [in military than Britain and while its MiG29s and T-72 tanks power], there might have been a lot of different thinking are not F-15s or Leopards, they aren’t chopped liver ei- in Washington.’” (6) ther. NATO may get added costs, but it also gets added ECONOMIC AND MILITARY QUESTIONS muscle.”(11) Already a joint Polish-German-Danish di- The price tag for NATO expansion remains unknown. vision has been stationed in Szczecin in northwestern According to an official US government approximation, Poland. within the next ten years the American taxpayers will FITNESS, SPIES, AND TRADITION spend $400 million, while the Western European allies Overall, the morale of the Polish army is low, but it is will have to pay $1.1 billion. Michael Mandelbaum (who not as bad as that of the Czech and Hungarian forces, and opposed NATO enlargement) has charged that this grossly nowhere near as bad as the Russian military.(12) Some underestimates the expense. potential Polish draftees avoid military service by illicitly As far as the costs of NATO expansion for the new obtaining medical exemption papers. The image of the allies are concerned, a Pentagon study projects that Po- army has also been tarnished by allegations of sadism. land, Hungary, and the Czech Republic will need up to These included widespread, if illegal, hazing practices, $21 billion to update their equipment and infrastructure which have led to a number of suicides. and develop combat compatibility with the rest of the However, perhaps the most important of all the prob- NATO forces. Poland will have to bear the lion’s share of lems of the Polish military is the office cadre. There are in the cost, perhaps as much as $15 billion over the next 10 it holdovers from Communist times. Some of these se- years. The Center for Defense Information in Washing- nior officers are highly unreliable, as their panicky re- ton, DC, judged unrealistic the Polish contention that Po- sponse to the Yanayev putsch of August 1991 showed. land would have to spend between $150 and $230 mil- Poland must also downsize its military bureaucracy. lion annually for 15 years to cover expansion costs. The All too often the Communist-era senior officers were re- US State Department estimated that Warsaw would have tained, while the more valuable junior officers were dis- to come up with at least $800 million per annum. It re- missed. Very few senior officers know English, and few mains unclear how the Poles will resolve this problem.(7) seem capable of operating within the sophisticated frame- However, the overall cost may be significantly lower. work of the NATO command. The alleged presence of As Richard Perle pointed out, the price may only be very Soviet military intelligence (GRU) operatives in Poland’s high if the Polish air force is brought up to par with its military is a concern. As retired US General William E. American counterpart. But why should it? The Spaniards, Odom, a former head of the National Security Agency for instance, never faced such a requirement.(8) After all, under President Ronald Reagan, put it: a military alliance means that American planes can fight in cooperation with the Polish ground support troops. At The Russians will probably have enough the Ministry of Defense in Warsaw, Jarosław Kiepura has residual capacity to cause us serious been working to coordinate civilian defense schemes with problems [in Poland, Hungary, and the NATO needs. Czech Republic]. But the fact that we The need to upgrade Poland’s forces necessitated the have an intelligence problem is not a abandonment of several projects developing indigenous show-stopper... It just means we have weapons systems, for instance the very promising spade work to do.(13) Skorpion fighter plane.(9) Certain domestic opponents of NATO bewailed the abandonment of national sovereignty. Finally, after half a century of abusing vodka with their They condemned the government for committing itself Soviet superiors, few senior Polish officers know how to to buy NATO equipment. They argued correctly that since socialize with the Western brass. To counter all these short- Poland could not afford any state of the art weapons sys- comings, several programs have been put together. One tems, it would have to buy outdated arms. Journalist Rafał of them sends Polish cadets to the US military academies Ziemkiewicz correctly retorted that it was better to have (West Point, Annapolis, and Colorado Springs). outdated American equipment than old Soviet weaponry, There have been successful military reforms. Since or none at all. 1990, a special program has been under way to restore However, Poland did not enter NATO empty-handed. military traditions that had been abolished by the Com- In November 1997, Poland, Hungary, and the Czech Re- munists. Names such as Feliks Dzierzhinski and Vanda public had 80,000 tanks and other combat vehicles.(10) Vasilewskaia were discarded from regimental and divi- September 1999 THE SARMATIAN REVIEW 657 sional banners and substituted with appellations of real curity’ and where religion is an even Polish heroes. Shedding the hated Soviet symbols, the more vital force. Europe today seems Polish army embraced pre-war and wartime Polish content to become a larger version of independentist paradigms. The most enthusiastic agents Sweden — and who goes to Sweden to of transformation are the officers in charge of the Depart- find the keys to unlock the future?(14) ment of the Tradition of Polish Arms (Wydział Tradycji Or∏ža Polskiego), among them Colonel Tadeusz Krzàstek A competing scenario envisions the Europeans rebel- and Lieutenant Colonel Dariusz Radziwiłłowicz. ling against America’s supremacy. Strong sentiments of FUTURE this kind were expressed 70 years ago by Jose Ortega y Europe now has its defensive border on the Bug river. Gasset. He advocated the creation of the United States of Politically and militarily, Poland will once again revert to Europe to counter the noxious domination of the Ameri- its historical role of the antemurale, the bulwark of Eu- cans. At least subconsciously, this sentiment may very rope—within the framework of NATO. Future develop- well be the driving force behind the current effort of Eu- ments depend on several factors. The most important is ropean unification. Cultural prejudice against Americans the fate of the European Union. Irving Kristol argues that has always been there. The European allies, except for Europe will gradually surrender itself to “the emerging the British, have frequently attempted to undermine American imperium.” According to this optimistic sce- America’s foreign policy objectives. In addition, certain nario, developments on the economic level suggest a latent de- sire to exclude the U.S. from Europe’s markets. The meaning of NATO today is that the In 1992 the Polish conservative thinker Stanisław U.S. has provided the nations of Europe Michałkiewicz warned against the pervasive anti-Ameri- with a unilateral guarantee of their ex- canism of Europe. According to him, it manifests itself isting borders against aggression. This is what these nations want above all. And in encouraging the United States to with- what price does Europe pay in exchange draw militarily from the continent. At for this guarantee? Nothing, apparently any rate, this has partly occurred already. — but only apparently. Beneath the sur- After all, there are plans to reduce the face, and surreptitiously, the nations of number of American troops in Europe. Europe are giving up a lot. It is now a If the Americans withdrew from Europe fact, still short of overt diplomatic rec- completely, the responsibility for... se- ognition, that no European nation can curity and stability of Europe would be- have — or really wants to have — its fall automatically onto other states. own foreign policy. There are not even Would they have to remain NATO signs that European nations want a Eu- states? Would NATO, as an European ropean foreign policy independent of the alliance, even survive after the Ameri- U.S. They are dependent nations, though can withdrawal from Europe? This is not they have a very large measure of local certain at all and that is certainly why autonomy. The term ‘imperium’ de- the idea of creating European security scribes this mixture of dependency and forces is being discussed. Naturally, autonomy.… these would have to be based upon the Most Europeans seem to believe that German military potential, which is cur- Europe will remain a major cultural force rently the most viable. I do not suspect even as its political presence diminishes. this scenario would cause violent revul- But history teaches us that power and sion in Germany. I believe that such a culture tend to be wedded to one another. turn of events would be a natural crown- Already there are signs of Europe’s cul- ing of the German efforts to unite Eu- tural decadence. Its version of the wel- rope, undertaken at least twice in the XX fare state and its radically secular soci- century. In this case it is clear that it ety are no longer any kind of model for makes no sense whatsoever to prolong the rest of the world, where economic the existence of NATO beyond what is growth is favored more than ‘social se- necessary.(15) 658 THE SARMATIAN REVIEW September 1999 in Europe for fifty years.(18) Thus, this pessimistic scenario would have America tricked out of the old continent and Europe succumbing There are already signs that the alliance is working in to Germany. In extremis, one could even fear a military just the right way. Commenting upon Poland’s staunch contest between the erstwhile allies, which would defi- support of US military operations against Iraq, the French nitely dispel “the myth of democratic pacifism.” A con- left-wing paper Le Monde bewailed the specter “of a new flict could possibly break out over the access to Russian American-British-Polish alliance committed to ‘the re- markets. jection of a European policy dominated by France and To prevent such a nightmarish development, the US Germany, to the benefit of a NATO under U.S.-U.K. con- has taken the necessary precautions. As Zbigniew trol’.”(19) Brzezinski put it, CONCLUSION Poland cannot possibly remain neutral, or safe, for long by enveloping Germany in a wider Euro- perched as it is between Germany and Russia. Moreover, Atlantic framework, NATO enlargement it can neither ally itself with a belligerent Germany nor resolves... Europe’s central security with a bellicose Russia. Historically, Russia has proved problem of the 20th century, which has incapable of treating fairly her junior partners. Therefore been how to cope effectively with the Poland has little choice but to join and remain in NATO reality of Germany’s problem... [After as long as the alliance is led by the United States. If the all, German belligerency] has produced US is pushed out of Europe, NATO and the European the problems and the tragedies with Union may become a cloak for the most powerful coun- which we are familiar.(16) try on the continent: Germany. In such a setting, a Rus- sian-German conflict or a Russian-German rapprochement AMERICA’S POLISH ALLY can only occur at Poland’s expense. Thus, it is in Poland’s Even in the worst case scenario, it would be in Poland’s interest to prevent such development by remaining loyal best interest to remain loyal to the United States rather to its American ally. ∆ than to become subordinate to Germany’s United Europe or to seek help from Russia. A prominent American poli- NOTES tician stressed that 1. George Jahn, “Money woes plague NATO invitees,” Associ- the Czech Republic, Hungary, and Po- ated Press release, 16 November 1997, REF 5264; Alex Bandy, “Hungarians vote to join NATO,” 16 November 1997, REF 5468; land will be among the most reliable pro- Carla Anne Robbins, “Hungary’s NATO bid illustrates the hopes, American NATO allies we could hope risks in Central Europe,” The Wall Street Journal, 2 January for. Not only do these countries need 1997; Geoffrey York, “Baltic nations breathe easier as rumours NATO; the U.S. needs these countries fade,” The Globe and Mail, 25 March 1997; Jane Perlez, “In Central Europe, enthusiasm battles nervousness over NATO,” in NATO. They will be among the first International Herald Tribune, 13 June 1997; Daniel Michaels, to stand with us in times of crisis, and “Gulf crisis may help NATO candidates,” The Wall Street Jour- will support America as we work to en- nal, 24 February 1998. sure that NATO remains what it is today 2. Geoffrey York, “In Poland, East is East and West is West,” — the most effective military alliance The Globe and Mail [Toronto], 18 February 1999. 3. Radek Sikorski, Full Circle: A Homecoming to Free Poland in human history.(17) (New York: Simon & Schuster, 1997), 203-238. 4. Rzeczpospolita, 29 March 1991. The National Review agrees: 5. For anti-NATO opinions see Zdzisław Zakrzewski, “Do czego słužy NATO?” MyÊl Polska, 21 February 1999. For conserva- tive ruminations about “Atlanticism” and “Euroasiatism,” see NATO’s potential new members, as Andrzej Fiderkiewicz, “Wielka wojna kontynentów: Rozwažania former satellites of the Soviet Union, o konflikcie žywiołów, euroazjatyêmie i atlantyêmie,” Staƒczyk: have a greater natural sympathy with the Pismo postkonserwatywne, 1 (1998): 24-45. For more sympa- U.S. than do some Western European thetic conservative opinion see Jan Žaryn, “Co robiã? members of the alliance. Far from weak- OdpowiedzialnoÊã za Polsk∏, za Europ∏,” Arcana, 3 (1998): 5- 13, and Rafal Smoczyƒski, “Przebudzenie,” Arcana, 3 (1997): ening NATO, their entry would bolster 96-100. Very negatively about United Europe and the Western American leadership and strengthen the world by reactionary traditionalist in “‘Zawsze lubiliÊmy trudne Atlantic ties that have preserved peace zadania’ — z Witoldem Kowalskim rozmawia Jakub Brodacki,” Proca, 1 (1997): 23-26. A German magazine called Poland’s September 1999 THE SARMATIAN REVIEW 659 chief populist rabblerouser, Andrzej Lepper, “der fanatische Europa-Gegner:” Edith Heller, “Mit Jahzorn und Jauche: Aus Total GDP in $ billions 135.3 150.1 Protest gegen Armut und billige EU-Importe blockieren Landwirte viele Hauptstrassen und Grenzabergange,” Focus, Real GDP growth 6.9% 4.8% 1 February 1999, 212-213. GDP per head in $ 3,500.00 3,880.00 6. The New York Times, 5 January 1998. Inflation 13.2% 8.6% 7. Tomasz Wróblewski, “Na piechot∏ do NATO,” Žycie, 26 March Agricultural output (% growth) 1.0% 3.5% 1997; Janet McEvoy, “Easterners to bear costs of NATO mem- Industrial production (% growth) 11.6% 4.7% bership,” Reuters release, 2 October 1997; Paul Ames, “NATO debates Eastern expansion,” Associated Press release, REF Unemployment rate (% of workforce) 11.5% 10.0% 5211; Jeffrey Ulbrich, “New countries plan to pay NATO cost,” Government deficit (% of GDP) 3.3% 2.7% Associated Press release, 3 October 1997, REF 5121; Jeffrey Trade balance ($ billions) -11.3 -14.0 Ulbrich, “NATO expansion to cost Allies $1.5B,” Associated Three-month interest rate 24.4% 15.0% (1) Press release, 27 November 1997, REF 5602; Carla Anne Robbins, “How little-debated expansion plan will alter NATO,” The Wall Street Journal, 12 March 1998. The main political groupings in Poland are as follows: 8. “Let it grow,” National Review, 23 March 1998. Solidarity Electoral Action (AWS), a coalition of 9. Jarosław Grz∏dowicz, “Žal po Skorpionie,” Gazeta Polska, around 40 parties and groups organized around the 6 January 1999. Solidarity Trade Union Movement. Chair: Marian 10. Adrian Karatnycky, “NATO Weal,” National Review, 10 No- Krzaklewski, a former academic specializing in com- vember 1997. 11. The Wall Street Journal, 20 March 1998. puter science; Parliamentary leader: Prime Minister 12. Moonlighting is common in the Czech and Hungarian Jerzy Buzek, former professor of chemical engineer- armies, but in Russia it degenerated into such aberrations as ing. Voter support for the AWS declined in 1998 (com- officers working as male strippers or Mafia enforcerers. See pared to 1997). In January 1999, Buzek was elected George Jahn, “Money woes plague NATO invitees,” Associ- ated Press release, 16 November 1997, REF 5264; Gisbert chairman of the Solidarity Electoral Action Social Mrozek, “Soldaten zum Anfassen,” Focus, 1 Februar 1999. Movement (RS AWS). 13. The New York Times, 5 January 1998. Democratic Left Alliance (SLD), former members 14. Irving Kristol, “The emerging American Imperium,” The Wall of the Communist party and their supporters, now em- Street Journal, 18 August 1997. bracing the principle of “social democracy.” Leader: 15. Stanisław Michałkiewicz, Na goràcym uczynku (Warsaw: Wydawnictwo von borowiecky, 1996), 128-129. President Aleksander KwaÊniewski, who defeated Lech 16. Quoted in Andrzej Styliƒski, “Brzezinski backs NATO ex- Wał∏sa for President in 1995, with 52 percent of the pansion,” Associated Press release, 7 December 1997, REF vote. Parliamentary leader: Leszek Miller. Voter sup- 5004. port for the SLD grew in 1998 (compared to 1997). 17. Jesse Helms, “NATO expansion has all the safeguards it needs,” The Wall Street Journal, 23 March 1998. Freedom Union (UW), the self-defined successor to 18. “Let it grow,” National Review, 23 March 1998. the first Solidarity Parliamentary grouping, espousing 19. Carla Anne Robbins, “How little-debated expansion plan what Balcerowicz describes as “liberal, free market” will alter NATO,” The Wall Street Journal, 12 March 1998. ideas. Leader: Leszek Balcerowicz, architect of Poland’s economic reforms (stabilization and privatization programs) in the government of former Prospects for the Polish Economy Prime Minister Tadeusz Mazowiecki. The Freedom Union has never been able to win a majority or even in 1999-2000 plurality support in Polish society. Polish Peasant Party (PSL), a relatively small farm- Richard J. Hunter, Jr. ers’ party which has been declining in importance as and agricultural issues continue to take a back seat in the Leo V. Ryan. C.S.V. Polish ruling circles’ plans for Poland. Leader: Jarosław Kalinowski. The PSL’s poor showing in the This is an updated version of a paper delivered at the PIASA 1997 parliamentary elections (losing two-thirds of its meeting in June 1999. votes from the 1993 Parliamentary elections) cost the SLD its major coalition partner in the Sejm and the Some economists predict that 1999 and 2000 could PSL’s chair, former Prime Minister Waldemar Pawlak, be difficult years for the Polish economy. Before dis- his party leadership position. cussing this proposition, a summary of the Polish eco- Movement for the Reconstruction of Poland (ROP), nomic situation is in order: promoting Polish nationhood and traditional moral and CATEGORY 1997 1998 social values. Leader: former Prime Minister Jan 660 THE SARMATIAN REVIEW September 1999 Olszewski. The ROP barely made the five percent ment to take the initiative in building roads and pro- barrier for representation in the Sejm in the 1997 par- viding affordable transportation for farm products. The liamentary elections. situation may grow worse as Poland further integrates The Self-Defense Farmers’ Trade Union or its economy with that of Western Europe through mem- Samoobrona, recently organized by Andrzej Lepper, a bership in the EU. On 28 January 1999, Solidarity populist who has led demonstrations and road blocks called a strike alert at the Sendzimir Steelworks, de- to demand higher farm prices. It has maintained a high manding guarantees of government orders during the profile in the confrontation between the government period in which the plant was to be restructured. On and various disaffected Polish farmer groups. 15 April 1999, a four-hour warning strike was staged Christian National Movement (ZChN), a compo- by the Solidarity Trade Union at the Ursus tractor plant nent of the ruling AWS-UW coalition. Leader: Ryszard near Warsaw in protest against the government’s eco- Czarnecki. It advocates “economic patriotism” in nomic policies. Solidarity warned that if the govern- granting tax relief to Polish citizens and investment ment did not meet its demands for the introduction of benefits to Polish domestic investors. It is extremely a more pro-family policy, equal taxation for all firms, wary of foreign investment and foreign influence in increased housing construction credits, increases in Poland. (2) contributions for health care organizations, and invest- Russia’s economic and political crises have had ment credits for the long-neglected countryside (fewer some impact on Poland. The government stated that young people from the countryside attend institutions there had been an almost total breakdown in food ex- of higher learning now than 10 years ago), and keep- ports to the Russian market, depressing domestic prices ing energy and gas prices steady, the protests would dramatically. The situation has been compounded by a escalate and might take on a nationwide character. slight recession in Germany, which has been Poland’s Complaints are also being raised about the status biggest economic partner for the past seven years. The of foreign capital in Poland, and some right wing groups share of Poland’s exports to Germany accounts for 36.3 have attempted to exploit fears (especially among those percent of their total value, while imports from Ger- living in the former German territories) of German many account for 26.4 percent of Polish imports. In political and economic influence in Poland. 1998, the value of Polish-German trade amounted to The coalition government of Prime Minister Buzek, 30.1 percent of the total Polish foreign trade. in which economic policy is tightly controlled by Fi- Coupled with a period of political infighting, the nance Minister Leszek Balcerowicz, is built around the economic downturn has raised social tensions. Bud- sometimes awkward coalition of AWS and UW. It is gets are tight and the government of Prime Minister struggling mightily to implement a program of eco- Jerzy Buzek remains committed to reducing the bud- nomic and administrative reforms involving radical get deficit to zero by the year 2002, the year in which changes in the pension, health and education systems. Poland hopes to enter the European Union. This tight The coalition has promised to stay together until the schedule makes the desperately poor lower-third of next scheduled parliamentary election in 2001. It will society blame the AWS and its partners for their pov- not be an easy task, given the internal policy contra- erty, unemployment, abominable post-communist dictions that exist and the persistent personality con- housing and other hardships. The SLD skillfully ex- flicts that have arisen. ploits these grievances, and it hopes to rise to power in According to polls taken by the PBS polling center the next election. in Sopot, the public has a low opinion of many Polish Society seems to be poised for a series of strikes political institutions, a situation reminiscent of public and demonstrations. In January 1999, Poland’s doc- opinion during most of the fifty years of the Soviet tors and nurses threatened a nationwide strike over pro- occupation of Poland. This includes Buzek’s govern- posed reforms, demanding more state funding for hos- ment and both chambers of parliament. In fact, public pital and outpatient care. Pig farmers, who have seen opinion in general has once again turned negative, with their prices cut in half partly because of the Russian economic pessimists more prevalent than economic crisis, have staged a series of protest road blocks. It is optimists. However, it appears that this attitude is more not the size of Polish farms that is at stake, but rather a product of the decidedly “negative assessment” of an inability of Poland’s ruling class to facilitate the current politicians and institutions than a real assess- farmers’ access to markets. The Polish countryside is ment of economic fundamentals. desperately short of capital, and it expects the govern- One surprising exception is President Aleksander September 1999 THE SARMATIAN REVIEW 661 KwaÊniewski who continues to garner a 70 percent privatization, but the process is painful for those skilled approval. KwaÊniewski has been careful to retain a workers who are employed in these enterprises and who middle ground between confrontation with the Buzek will lose their jobs thanks to inept management. government and using his powers of veto on legisla- The National Investment Funds (NIFs) were estab- tion to appease his left-leaning constituency. In fact, lished four years ago. Fifteen NIFs have been estab- as KwaÊniewski takes on a decidedly more apolitical lished, and mass privatization certificates were issued role, mainly reduced to official representational func- to 27 million adult Poles at the nominal rate of Zł 20 tions, his popularity continues to climb and his lead per certificate. The NIF program was designed to make over probable Solidarity presidential candidate in the ordinary Poles co-owners in an emerging capital mar- year 2000, Marian Krzaklewski, continues to grow. ket, and teach budding entrepreneurs the basics of in- But some economic news is very good. In Gdaƒsk, vesting. The NIFs were comprised of 512 individual after two years of losses, the Northern Shipyard closed enterprises, and the program promised easy access to last year with a profit of $4.16 million. Poland’s loans and new technologies for Polish industry. The privatization efforts have yielded significant results. results have been somewhat disappointing. Almost In 1998, sales included a limited stock market offering immediately after receiving certificates, 60 percent of of Pekao, Poland’s second biggest bank, and TPSA, holders resold their certificates for a small profit (of- the telecommunications utility. In 1999, plans include ten directly outside banks and other sales offices). Only sales of strategic stakes in both Pekao and TPSA 0.3 percent sold certificates through the Warsaw Stock (210,000,000 shares worth $922,8 million), plus the Exchange. About ten percent had no idea at all what privatization of PZU, the insurance company, and to do with the certificates. Several hundred thousand Rafineria Płock, an oil group. The total private sector certificates were stashed away and are now worthless employment is now 47.7 percent of the labor force because their holders forgot to convert them to NIF (4,179,000 workers), while the public sector still em- stock by 1 January 1999. These developments reflect ploys 4,572,000 people. Finance Minister Balcerowicz the poverty of the Polish population (those who sold predicts that inflation in 1999 will not be higher than them immediately were in desperate need of cash) and 7.5 percent and that exports will rise by 9.3 percent. the pernicious results of the Soviet-controlled educa- Japan’s Nomura Brokerage House, a leader in eco- tion which kept the bulk of the population unaware of nomic analysis, suggests that Poland’s credit rating the modes of operation of modern society and economy. deserves to be raised, since “its fundamental macro- This mass privatization program was put together economic statistics are better than in other countries by Minister Janusz Lewandowski under the SLD gov- with the same ratings” (PAP, “Nomura: Poland Merits ernment. When that government was replaced by the Higher Credit Ratings,” 7 May 1999). Nomura pre- AWS government, Lewandowski said that the NIF pro- dicts an increase in economic growth and an increase gram was less than successful because the Buzek gov- in foreign direct investment. FDI has reached an accu- ernment failed to support the NIFs in 1998. mulated total of $30 billion, including more than $10 Lewandowski blamed the Treasury, which he said “sent billion in 1998 alone, with German investments total- unclear signals and changed the rules for remunerat- ing $5.117 billion. Toyota plans to build a transmis- ing NIF managing firms, in addition to influencing sion factory in Poland by the year 2000, with a total shareholders, meetings, and the process of consolida- investment of 20 billion yen. South Korea is currently tion.” (Polityka, No. 18, 1 May 1999). Still, the Polish Poland’s largest trading partner in Asia, the relation- NIF program compares favorably with similar mass ship growing rapidly to $1.3 billion in 1998. One should privatization programs in other Central and Eastern add to this an increase in the value of the złoty against European countries. both the euro (+3 percent) and the dollar (+1.3 per- Thus the Poland of 1999 remains a paradox. Eco- cent), and an expected rise in GDP in 1999 from a pro- nomic and political change has remade the country jected 3.5 percent to 4.4-5.0 percent. These optimistic since the dark days of martial law in 1981-1983. Yet views are echoed by the National Bank of Poland and the benefits of Poland’s economic progress have often by PAIZ, the government’s investment agency. been unevenly distributed. There is a profound dissat- Yet, many privatization issues remain unsolved. A isfaction in society that many of the “winners” in the handful of money-losing state-owned enterprises still “new Poland” are members of the old intelligentsia and retain government subsidies. The government plans to political nomenklatura who suffer from a certain am- force such units to stand on their own through nesia about their roles under the discredited commu- 662 THE SARMATIAN REVIEW September 1999 nist system (see Richard J. Hunter and Leo V. Ryan, Soviet-occupied countries in the dark decades of communist From Autarchy to Market: Polish Economics and Poli- rule. Perhaps the Nobel Committee sensed that we have tics 1945-1999, Westport, CT: Praeger, 1998). While entered an epoch of insignificant commonness, of “stock- no one seriously supports a return to the former closed ings, slippers, camisoles, and stays...” The typists come home, system, 44 percent of respondents in an April 1999 clear their breakfasts, light their stoves, and cook their Red Pentor Poll maintained that the Polish economy was Baron single-serving pizzas in the microwave. It is in this in a bad condition. Forty five percent said it was partly context that Szymborska belongs. The cities are awash with good, partly bad and only 11 percent spoke positively these “typists” with their TVs and their VCRs, slippers and about the current economic situation. Perhaps this jogging shorts. From this atmosphere to Herbert’s poetry one negative attitude reflects the view that too few people, has to take a long trip. If poetry is to be read at all by the great especially the young, have seen their material fortunes masses of those who read only labels on foodstuffs and seat dramatically improve while the aged, country dwell- assignments on airplane tickets, Szymborska was the right ers, and the undereducated have continued to lag be- choice. Not T.S. Eliot, and not Zbigniew Herbert who was hind. T.S. Eliot’s successor. It is this paradox of a growing capitalist class side A disgruntled historian supplied me with a selection of by side with a large disaffected minority that will pro- Szymborska’s poetry from the period which apparently did vide the backdrop and the battleground for both the not interest the Nobel judges: the early 1950s. It was a breath- presidential election in the year 2000 and the parlia- taking discovery. Not even Mayakovsky was a more insis- mentary elections scheduled for just a year later. Should tent propagandist for the Soviet cause. Szymborska’s poetry President KwaÊniewski gain reelection as he is poised of that period was mendacious, but it was also powerful. Then to do, and should the former communists in the SLD as now, she showed her mettle by simply writing well, sup- return to power in the parliament as current polls sug- porting the wrong cause to be sure, but doing so with an envi- gest, it would mean that the voters (who a decade ago able facility of a masterful writer. Her handling of language voted decisively against communism) are desperate enough was and is superior. She is a major talent. to pay heed to the promises of postcommunists. ∆ The sycophancy accompanying Szymborska’s newly NOTES acquired fame during and after the reception of the Nobel 1. Stefan Wagstyl and Christopher Bobinski, “Braced for a was predictable. The ah’s and oh’s about her curtsying difficult year,” The Financial Times, 30 March 1999. 2. Christopher Bobinski, “Tug of war between two giants,” before the master of ceremonies at Stockholm, her mod- The Financial Times, 30 March 1999; Janusz Goł∏biowski, est refusal to attend a meeting (“I still have to go to sup- “Political Developments in Poland,” Poland: International per at the King’s,” she is said to have said) have elicited Economic Report, 1997/1998, edited by Marek Lubiƒski much sympathetic admiration. “What a charming little (Warsaw: Warsaw School of Economics, 1998), 9-17; “Radi- cal Farmer’s Union Holds Congress,” http://web.lexis- lady” was the tenor of commentary in the American and nexis.com; Leszek Balcerowicz, Socialism, Capitalism, Polish press. Transformation (Budapest: Central European University But lo and behold, months and years have passed, Press, 1995); Jeffrey Sachs, Poland’s Jump to a Market and Szymborska disappeared from the pages of fash- Economy (Cambridge, MA: MIT Press, 1993). ionable literary magazines. Few readers reach for her poems and few critics “keep the ball rolling,” to use Witold Gombrowicz’s phrase. Writers such as T.S. Eliot Afterthoughts on Wisława Szymborska live largely because unsolicited comments are made about them in in a wide range of articles and books. While Zbigniew Herbert was denied the fifteen min- Sally Boss utes of fame which the Nobel affords, he still lives on, and not only on the pages of Tygodnik SolidarnoÊç (his The 1996 Nobel Prize went to Wisława Szymborska, faithful longterm friend and companion), but also in the writings and thoughts of Polish and American writ- a 73-year old Polish poet. Why to her, and not to a ers and journalists. There is a tone of genuinness to greater poet, Zbigniew Herbert whose record under these references: they are spontaneous, uncontrived, communism was spotless (hers was not), and whose unexpected so to speak. As to Szymborska, when the Mr. Cogito has been a rallying point for many, includ- glow of the Nobel disappeared, she sank into obscu- ing a publishing house in Oregon, Mr. Cogito Press? rity in the English-speaking world. In Poland, she con- tinues to enjoy some prestige (the glow of the Nobel Herbert was, and is, inspiring; Szymborska is not. Why never fades away in Poland). Szymborska’s moral am- her? biguity makes her a fitting “poet laureate” of It may be that the Nobel Committee was tired of postcommunist Poland. ∆ heroism, of politics, of the grand themes sustaining the September 1999 THE SARMATIAN REVIEW 663 1996-97 402 Letters 1997-98 408 One Polish American female novelist about another 1998-99 475 Thanks for comment about my novels being among ‘the most readable!’ (SR, XIX:1, January 1999) Central Europe Online declares The Sarmatian Re- It was an honor to have my name included in the re- view “the site of the day” view of Leslie Pietrzyk’s wonderful first novel. I’m Central Europe Online (http:// enjoying watching her very promising career blossom. www.centraleurope.com/), probably the largest Web Suzanne Strempek Shea, Palmer, MA directory and information provider on Central Europe, We are watching both of you write and publish fine novels sent us a message with a graphic attachment describ- at considerable speed! Ed. ing the selection of The Sarmatian Review as “the site Subscriptions of the day.” It says: “Visit The Sarmatian Review for I have been reading The Sarmatian Review for some scholarly discourse on Central and Eastern Europe time and enjoying it very much. It is high time to thank (http://www.centraleurope.com/links/ceolinks/ you for a job well done and as proof send you my sub- ceolinks.php3).” We are pleased to receive this token scription check which you will find enclosed. of recognition, one of the many we have received over Anna Chrypinski, Flat Rock, MI and Saint the years. CEO is one of the Web sites linked to the Mary’s College, Orchard Lake, MI SR. Incidentally, we would appreciate an Internet buff researching comments about SR on the Net, and send- Announcements and Notes ing the results (with Web addresses) to us! We have seen comments like “The most interesting publication Jerzy Giedroyc receives the Golden Scepter Award about Polish-American and Central European culture In 1999, Kultura’s Jerzy Giedroyc received the I have found (http://sg0.chem.upenn.edu/~strzalka/ Złote Berło (Golden Scepter) Award given irregularly bookmarks.html),” and we have been placed on by a loose association of Polish artists, writers and in- “Najciekawsze polskie linki na Internecie tellectuals. The Award is given for exceptional achieve- (www.3w3.net/polska/Info/links.html).” From time to ment in the field of Polish culture, and it carries a time, we shall share such news with our readers. Zł.100,000 cash prize (about $26,000). Andrzej Walicki receives Balzer Prize Professor Andrzej Walicki of the University of Notre Dame has received the prestigious 1998 Balzer Prize (500,000 Swiss F.)awarded by the E. Balzer Founda- tion. The prize was awarded “for his exceptional con- tribution to the study of cultural and social history of About the Authors Russia and Poland, in addition to that of European cul- Marek Jan Chodakiewicz is Instructor in History at Pierce ture of the nineteenth century.” Professor Walicki’s College in California and an ABD in History at Columbia work is dedicated to that “debate between Liberalism University. and Marxism” which has informed the work of many Jerzy Giedroyc is a key Polish cultural figure of the twentieth post-Enlightenment intellectuals who have traced their century. philosophy to Kant, Hume and Hegel. Richard J. Hunter, Jr., is Professor of Legal Studies at Seton Success: thy name is UIC Hall University. The Polish program at the University of Illinois at Leo V. Ryan, C.S.V., is Professor of Management at DePaul Chicago is the largest in the nation, and growing. Last University. year’s enrollments in Polish language, literature, cul- Andrzej Walicki is O’Neill Professor of History at the Uni- ture, and cinema totaled 475 students—an increase of versity of Notre Dame and the author of numerous books on 73 students over the previous academic year. Since Russian and Polish history. 1993 enrollments in Polish at the Chicago campus of Sally Boss is a longtime supporter of The Sarmatian Review. the University of Illinois have grown as follows: Melchior Waƒkowicz (d. 1974) is a Polish writer and jour- Academic Year Students Enrolled in Polish nalist. 1993-94 165 Aleksandra Ziółkowska-Boehm is a Polish writer and edi- 1994-95 236 1995-96 337 tor. 664 THE SARMATIAN REVIEW September 1999 Central Europe Study Group Thank You Note Rice University The Sarmatian Review would like to thank the following Luncheon Meetings individuals and institutions for their donations to the These monthly meetings are open to college faculty and Sarmatian Review Publication Fund: graduate students in the Houston area. We meet at noon in Mr. & Mrs. George Bajor; Mr. John Conrad; Pro- the Faculty Club, have a quick lunch and listen to an infor- fessor Andrew Ehrenkreutz; Mr. & Mrs. Stanley & mal scholarly presentation. These are Dutch-treat, reserva- Maria Garczynski; Mr. & Mrs. J. Grembowiec of tion-only lunches. If you plan to attend, an email confirma- GREMBOWIEC & ASSOCIATES, INC.; Mr. & Mrs. tion is needed two weeks in advance (table reservation re- strictions). If you do not have a Faculty Club card, consult Jan & Hanna Karon; Mr. Leonard M. Krazynski, the menu, add tax and 15% service charge, and hand in check Poland’s Honorary Consul in Houston, and Mrs. Diane or cash to the chairperson. For schedule, consult CESG LEC- Krazynski; Mr. Mitchell A. Moos, M.D.; Ms. Elzbieta TURES at . Sepich; Mrs. Henryka J. Sokul; Dr. Kenneth W. Walpuck; Mr. & Mrs. Stanley J. & Stella Wlodarczyk; The Kosciuszko Foundation Concert Mr. C. Norman Boehm, Jr. & Dr. Aleksandra The Texas Chapter of the Kosciuszko Foundation will present Ziólkowska-Boehm. pianist Michael Namirovsky in concert at the Moores Opera Thank you—we rely on your support. House, University of Houston. Mr. Namirovsky is the 1999 National Kosciuszko Foundation Chopin Piano competition Award winner. RADIO COURIER Time: October 1, 1999, 7:00 p.m. Polish American Radio Network Pianist: Michael Namirovsky P.O. Box 130146, Houston, Texas 77219 Place: University of Houston, Moores Opera House Polish Language Program Ticket price: $10. Saturday 11:00 AM, 1520 KYND A reception will follow. tel./fax: (281) 872-1062 For tickets or further information, please call Dr. Waldemar email: [email protected] Priebe at 713-665-4850 or [email protected].

A and M Technical Services Inc. November 5-7, 1999 Metallurgical Testing Laboratory Third Annual 407 Sylvester Road Polish Film Festival Houston, Texas 77009 Anthony Rudnicki in Houston Chief Metallurgist Phone: 713-691-1765 Fax: 713-695-7241 The Festival’s coordinator is Dr. Zbigniew Wojciechowski ([email protected]). Details will soon be available on the Fo- rum Polonia Page (www.forum-polonia-houston.com). The Anya Tish Gallery 1740 Sunset Boulevard. Houston, Texas 77005 phone/fax: 713-523-2299 Give where it really Artwork and paintings from Central and Eastern Europe counts:

TAG TRAVEL Ticketing, Cruises, Accommodations, Car Rental support Halina Kallaby General Manager The Sarmatian Review. 6484 Woodway Drive Houston, Texas 77057 Phone: 713-932-0001 Fax: 713-932-9901