The World - News from June 2, 1989

A Polish-born American millionaire agreed to try to save the birthplace of the Solidarity trade union, the Lenin Shipyard in Gdansk, from closure by Poland’s Communist government. Barbara Piasecka-Johnson, who inherited a fortune from her U.S. businessman-husband, signed a preliminary agreement in the Baltic port with Solidarity leader Lech Walesa and the shipyard manager, Czeslaw Tolwinski, to form a company to save the yard. The three said in a statement that they are planning to start operations by Jan. 1, but they did not say if the new company will take over all or part of the shipyard. The government last October ordered it closed due to heavy financial losses.