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involved in much political agitation before and during the elections. Archbishop Tutu had tried unsuccessfully to persuade Western Ambassadors to join a high-profile tour of the townships. The British Ambassador had been active in urging restraint on both sides. It was a helpful development that Archbishop Tutu had decided in the end not to visit a number of European countries including the United Kingdom.

ONFIDENTIA

erman

emocratic

epublic

FOREIGN AND COMMONWEALTH SECRETARY said that 10,000 East German efugees were reported to have left Hungary via Austria for the ederal Republic of Germany. The stream appeared to be drying up. The dramatic exodus underlined the discontent over political and economic stagnation in the German Democratic Republic, particularly among the young. There were reports that Chairman Erich Honecker was ill, possibly fatally, and a sense of drift was apparent within the administration The implications of recent developments for East Germany itself and for the Warsaw Pact as a whole would not become clear for some time.

NFI

isit to ashington by Foreign and

ommonwealth écretary

THE FOREIGN AND COMMONWEALTH SECRETARY said that during his visit to Washington from 10 to september he had had discussions with the President, Mr George Post the Secretary of State, Mr James Baker, and other members of the United States Administration and members of Congress. The United Statesvernment was extremely concerned about the drugs problem, and grateful for the British Government's initiative over assistance for the Colombian Government. The United States believed that the Colombian President, Dr Barco, would maintain his resolve to resist the drugs barons, and had decided to give him strong support. The Administration was particularly pleased that Britain had been the first European Government to have extended practical help to Colombia. There had been expressions of support from the Belgian, Danish, Dutch and Irish Governments and a response was still awaited from Prime Minister Gonzalez of Spain to the Prime Minister's letter. A team of senior officials from Britain had had useful discussions with the Colombian authorities and the United States Government. It should be possible to produce a modest but It should be possible t produce a modest but effective programme of assistance to the Colombian Government.

THE FOREIGN AND COMMONWEALTH SECRETARY said that main problems had arisen during his discussions in Washington. Forst, there was great sensitivity in the United States Administration over the European Community's broadcasting directive. Before his visit to Washington, the United States Ambassador in London hased this problem with him; and Mr Baker had also done so in Washington. Mrs Carla Hills, the United States Trade Representative, would be discussing the question with the Secretary of State for Trade and

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