Polish misstep would halt aid, Reagan, Schmidt say

March 31, 1981

President Reagan and West German Chancellor Helmut Schmidt agreed to halt economic aid to Poland if internal or external moves are made to suppress the Polish people, the White House announced. White House press secretary James Brady said Mr. Schmidt spoke with Mr. Reagan from West Germany for about 15 minutes Monday morning. The call by Schmidt followed a similar discussion between the West German leader and French President Valery Giscard d'Estaing, Mr. Brady said.

The discussions were the first indication that Western democracies might be planning a coordinated response in the event Communist authorities in Warsaw or Soviet troops move to quash current labor unrest and the trend toward liberalization s pawned by Polish labor unions.