ONFIDEN
CONFIDENTIAL
Pa
£260
there was a good possibility that this would encourage members of other trade unions to do so. Meanwhile, the unions in dispute were attempting to extend their industrial action, with varying results. They were meeting that day to consider means of further escalation, but overall it was uncertain what success they would have. A walk-out by London Ambulance Controllers the previous day had gained some publicity but had been well handled by management. It was ironic that the ntrollers who had since returned to work had themselves originally insisted on the introduction of the procedures which now claimed were leading to unacceptable delays in Tendance by police and military vehicles at emergency ridents.
-
The Cabinet
Took note.
OREIGN AFFAIRS
zechoslovakia
revious eference: C(89) 35.3
CO
3. THE FOREIGN AND COMMONWEALTH SECRETARY said that the control of one-party domanist governments in Eastern Europe was continuing to crap In Czechoslovakia, the general strike on 27 November had been psychological defeat for the Party leadership. The Pat and government were now trying to procrastinate in the face of popular pressure. Prime Minister Adamec had agreed that hearty should abandon its leading role and that a new government including non-communists, should be in place by 3 December. Civic Forum, which represented most vic Forum, which represented most opposition groups, was the a channel for negotiations with the government. The process change in Czechoslovakia was well under way, and it
and it woul be very difficult for the authorities to reverse it now.
FAL
1
Chancellor Kohl's
peech in the Bundestag
THE FOREIGN AND COMMONWEALTH SECRETARY said that the Federal German Chancellor, Dr Helmut Kohl, had made a major speech in the Bundestag on 28 November in which he had set out a new ten- point plan on the relationship between Week and East Germany. Chancellor Kohl had stressed the importance of the elections in East Germany which, the West German government considered, were likely to take place by the end of next year
foresaw a
two
period in which the two Germanies would existside each other and would co-operate, though each country would remain a member of its present Alliance. Confederative structures would be developed between the two German states so the countries would proceed towards unity over a period The West German Foreign Minister, Herr Hans Dietrich censeber, in his discussions in London on 29 November, had put reassuring gloss on Chancellor Kohl's statement than perhaps
time.
fore
text warranted. Herr Genscher was doubtless aware of the likel
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