CONFIDENTIAL
Page 189
Germark Democrat Republic
FIDEN
Previous Reference:
OC (89) 33.3
3. THE FOREIGN AND COMMONWEALTH SECRETARY said that events in East Germany had moved very rapidly, particularly following the measures taken to introduce freer travel between East and West Berlin. The key question now was whether the East German government would agree to hold free elections. Their intentions were still obscure. The new Prime Minister, Herr Hans Modrow, the former Party Secretary in Dresden, had been elected on 13 November. He had the reputation of a reformer. The Party
ongress had been brought forward to 15/17 December. This was
und to be a crucially important occasion. The opposition
were pressing for free elections, but did not want these ake place immediately since they were not yet ready. There had been intensive diplomatic activity as events in East Germany unfolded. The Prime Minister had been in close touch with other alled leaders. Despite excessive press speculation, allied governments had reacted steadily and with caution. This had emerged clearly at the Western European Union Ministerial meeting on X14 November. The French President, M. Francois Mitterrand had organised a meeting of European Community (EC) leaders on 8 November. It was to be hoped that EC leaders would express their support and welcome for the changes taking place in Easter prope while agreeing on the need for a careful and steadfast approach, based on existing well-tried institutions. A had to be taken of the position of the Soviet President, Mikhail Gorbachev. He faced a difficult situation but it was very much in the interests of Western governments that he old remain in power. The question of German reunification was extremely sensitive. Given the German Constitution and politafe in West Germany, it was inevitable that there should be some discussion of
reunification. All the ae governments had been committed to this general principle for many years. At the same time no- one in a position of influence in the West or East believed that reunification was likely to happen Dapidly, or that this would be desirable in the near future.his view was also shared by reformers inside East Germany.
sident Mitterrand's purpose in organising the meeting on 18 November was probably to try to dispose of developments in Eastern Europe before the European Council meeting in Strasbourg on 8/9 December.
This was unrealistic. Much was likely to happen in the intervening period before the European Council. Moreover the issues were so important for the future of the EC that they would need to be discussed again in depth at the European Counci
Nevertheless,
on the whole the allied response to events in stern Europe had been sensible and prudent.
In discussion, the following points were made:
a. A clear framework for dealing with the changes in Eastern Europe had been laid down, most recently in the Prime Minister's speech at the Lord Mayor's Banquet on 13 It was essential to maintain existing institutions,
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