Things are changing in Poland. At least that is what the public is being led to believe after parliamentary elections and gradual reforms seem to be slowly thawing the communist grip on an economically ravaged country.

A government headed by party boss Gen. Wojciech Jaruzelski has been willing to allow certain personal freedoms, but unlike China, economic improvements have long been unattainable. Now, things may look brighter.

President Bush, before the first meeting of the new Polish parliament, Monday pledged support to the people of Poland in the form of a $100 million economic aid package. Bush’s proposal also calls for a lightening of outstanding Polish debt payments, a call for other rich western countries to assist and the beginning of cultural exchanges between the U.S. and China.

These proposals are solid, and Bush deserves applause for doing something instead of simply talking. However, this program needs to move ahead cautiously, and we must not be overzealous in helping a country whose government has been the main culprit in the current situation.

Some Solidarity members in Warsaw are praising Bush, but they also are voicing concerns, and rather accurately, that too generous an offer would alleviate much of the pressure on the government and slow the path to further reforms.

One Polish citizen was quoted as saying, “We have problems in Poland, but we have to solve them for ourselves.”

Perhaps that is the most important message sent from the country. We can help, but only so much. The Polish people are proud folks, and a situation as volatile as theirs needs room to breath. Let’s not strangle them with too much of our help.