240. Editorial Note
At the 316th meeting of the National Security Council, March 14, Director of Central Intelligence Allen Dulles briefed the Council on developments in Poland:
“Dulles pointed out that Gomulka gave every appearance of putting the brakes on the anti-Stalinist liberalization movement in Poland. Gomulka’s moves were probably dictated by tactics, but there was danger that these tactics would cost him a large measure of popular support. Mr. Dulles indicated that Poland’s basic problem was still economic. Gomulka regards the current negotiations with the United [Page 591] States for assistance as of the utmost importance. If Poland received no assistance from the United States, Mr. Dulles predicted that the chances of survival for the Gomulka regime would be very slim indeed. In this contingency, Gomulka would be obliged to turn to the USSR for economic assistance denied him by the United States, and he would therefore be at the mercy of the Soviet Union.” (Memorandum of discussion by Gleason, March 15; Eisenhower Library, Whitman File, NSC Records)