In addition, officials at the University of Poznan--which dismissed Baranczak in 1977, ostensibly because of his political activities--reinstated him, reportedly at students' request.

In December, he received permission to make a one-day visit to Stockholm for ceremonies honoring Nobel Prize-winning Polish author Czeslaw Milosz.

And about two weeks ago, Fanger received an optimistic letter from Baranczak expressing hope that his application for a leave of absence would soon be approved.

Harvard officials speculated that the Polish authorities' apparent change of attitude may have come out of liberalizing efforts of labor and intellectual unrest in Poland, although Fanger noted that Baranczak, because of his extensive dissident activity, "was one of the hardest pills for [the government] to swallow."

The government's decision to grant Baranczak a passport should bring to an end more than three years of protracted, complex and often frustrating efforts to secure his arrival here.

The discussions, which on at least one occasion seemed close to a successful conclusion only to fall apart at the last minute, involved private citizens and the U.S. State Department, in addition to Harvard and Polish officials.

President Bok--who could not be reached for comment--sent several protests in 1978 and 1979 to the Polish Embassy in Washington, which responded last summer with a letter suggesting six Polish scholars other than Baranczak for Harvard to invite.

Daniel A. Steiner '54, general counsel to the University who has been handling the matter for Bok, said he would have no comment "unless and until" Baranczak arrives. Dean Rosovsky, who said that he had last year written former Secretary of State Edmund S. Muskie regarding Baranczak, said he voted be "very delighted" if Baranczak can come here.

In Washington, neither U.S. nor Polish officials could confirm that Baranczak had received his passport, but both took optimistic tones.

Romuald Spasowski, Poland's ambassador to the U.S., said when contacted last night that "I don't see any difficulty" in Baranczak's coming here. A State Department spokesman said "we understand there's some movement in the case" but would not go further.

Baranczak's family--his wife. Anna, 10-year-old son Michel and three-year-old daughter Ania--were also granted passports yesterday and will accompany him here. His exact travel plans are not yet set, his mother said.

A founding member in 1976 of the Committee for Social Self-Defense (KOR). Poland's most prominent dissident group, Baranczak is the author of several volumes of poetry and criticism and has edited and translated the works of e. e. cummings, Dylan Thomas and others