Chronicle

Memo by the Austrian Ministry of Foreign Affairs

Bereits im September 1989 schrieb ein weitsichtiger Diplomat des österreichischen Aussenministeriums eine ausführliche Analyse, in der er zu dem Schluss kam, dass die Frage der deutschen Wiedervereinigung in den kommenden Jahren ein bestimmendes Thema in der internationalen Politik sein wird.

Thomas Nowotny, Austria · Ministry of Foreign Affairs→Austria · Ministry of Foreign Affairs

Vienna, 19 September 1989

Telegram from the Israeli Ambassador in Bonn, Benjamin Navon, to the Israeli Foreign Ministry

Report on a discussion with Wolfgang Mischnick of the FDP on his impressions of a visit to East Berlin; Israel's concerns are voiced.

Benjamin Navon, Israel · Embassy in Bonn→Israel · Foreign Ministry

Bonn, 27 October 1989

Memorandum by the United States’ Deputy National Security Advisor, Robert M. Gates

During the telephone call with President Bush, Chancellor Kohl reported on his trip to Poland and the situation in East Germany after the Berlin Wall was first breached the previous day.

Robert M. Gates, USA United States of America · White House→–

Washington, D.C., 10 November 1989

Information Memorandum for the United States Secretary of State, James A. Baker

Preliminary assessment of the implications of the dramatic events in East Berlin for US policy in Europe.

USA United States of America · State Department→James Baker, USA United States of America · State Department

Washington, D.C., 10 November 1989

Telegram from the British Commandant in Berlin, Robert Corbett, to the British Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, Douglas Hurd

Description of a “historic night” of free travel between East and West Berlin.

Robert Corbett, British Military Government in Germany→Douglas R. Hurd, GB · Foreign Office

West Berlin, 10 November 1989, 9.15 a.m.

Circular by the Austrian Ministry of Foreign Affairs

Am Tag nach der zufälligen Öffnung der Berliner Mauer sah sich das österreichische Außenministerium gezwungen, seinen Diplomaten grundlegende Informationen über die Haltung Österreichs zu der Wiedervereinigung Deutschlands zur Verfügung zu stellen.

Johann Plattner, Austria · Ministry of Foreign Affairs→Thomas Klestil, Alois Mock, Austria · Ministry of Foreign Affairs

Vienna, 10 November 1989

Notice pour le Chef du Département fédéral des affaires étrangères, René Felber

Informations, imprégnées par l'analyse de la situation avec une perspective suisse, en vue d'une conférence de presse de René Felber sur les événements survenus à Berlin.

EDA · Politische Direktion · Zentrale Dienste · Politisches Sekretariat→René Felber, Federal Department for Foreign Affairs

Berne, 14 novembre 1989

Minutes of the 34th Meeting of the Cabinet held at 10 Downing Street on 15 November 1989 at 9.30 a.m.

The events in the GDR were discussed.

Great Britain · Government→–

Telegram from the Canadian Ambassador in Bonn, Thomas W. Delworth, to the Canadian Department of External Affairs

Observations on the mood in East Berlin in the immediate aftermath of the opening of the Berlin Wall.

Thomas W. Delworth, Canada · Embassy in Berlin→Canada · Global Affairs

Bonn, 15 November 1989

Memo for the Foreign Minister of the FRG, Hans-Dietrich Genscher

Die Reaktionen der US -Regierung, der Medien und der Öffentlichkeit auf die jüngsten Ereignisse in Berlin und der DDR werden dargestellt. Die eher verhaltene Erklärung von Präsident Bush, wird auf den Fokus der US -Regierung auf die Wahrung von Stabilität in der NATO zurückführt.

Eberhard Kölsch, Gebhardt von Moltke, Germany · FRG Federal Republic of Germany · Federal Foreign Office→Hans-Dietrich Genscher, Germany · FRG Federal Republic of Germany · Federal Foreign Office

Bonn, 16 November 1989

Telegram from the Canadian Ambassador in Bonn, Thomas W. Delworth, to the Canadian Department of External Affairs

Observations on how popular support for reunification is pushing the pace faster than anyone anticipated.

Thomas W. Delworth, Canada · Embassy in Berlin→Canada · Global Affairs

Bonn, 6 December 1989

Telegram from the Ambassador of the FRG in Paris, Franz Pfeffer, to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the FRG

Information über die verschiedenen Reaktionen in Frankreich auf den Fall der Berliner Mauer und die jüngsten Entwicklungen in der DDR. Dabei wird die Notwendigkeit einer guten Öffentlichkeitsarbeit der deutschen Botschaft betont.

Helmut Elfenkämper, Franz Pfeffer, Germany · FRG Federal Republic of Germany · Embassy in Paris→Germany · FRG Federal Republic of Germany · Federal Foreign Office

Paris, 18 Dezember 1989, 3.54 p.m.

Telegram from the British Ambassador in Bonn, Sir Christopher Mallaby, to the British Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, Douglas Hurd

Concern at the perception of the UK attitude towards German unity is expressed.

Christopher Mallaby, Great Britain · Embassy in Bonn→Douglas R. Hurd, GB · Foreign Office

Bonn, 5 January 1990, 4.41 p.m.

Memorandum by the United States National Security Council

President Bush and Chancellor Kohl discussed proposals for the conventional force reduction talks in Vienna, particularly in light of recent developments in Eastern Europe and the Soviet Union.

Philip D. Zelikow, USA United States of America · National Security Council→–

Washington, D.C., 26 January 1990

Memo for the Foreign Minister of the FRG, Hans-Dietrich Genscher

M. Gorbatschow und E. Schewardnadse halten die deutsche Einigung für unvermeidlich. Deshalb konzentrieren sie sich darauf, die Entwicklung durch den KSZE-Prozess zu steuern und die deutsche Einigung als Katalysator zu nutzen, um die Entwicklung in Europa in ihrem Interesse zu beeinflussen.

Helmut-Wolfgang Brett, Klaus Neubert, Dietmar Stüdemann, Germany · FRG Federal Republic of Germany · Federal Foreign Office→Hans-Dietrich Genscher, Germany · FRG Federal Republic of Germany · Federal Foreign Office

Bonn, 31 January 1990

Telegram from the Dutch Ambassador in Bonn, Jan van der Tas, to the Dutch Minister of Foreign Affairs, Hans van den Broek

Report on the visit of Defence Minister Relus ter Beek to the Defence Minister of the FRG Gerhard Stoltenberg, and the possible implications of German reunification for the banking situation in Germany, NATO cooperation, and the CSCE discussions with the Soviets.

Jan van der Tas, Netherlands · Embassy in Bonn→Hans van den Broek, Netherlands · Ministry of Defence

Bonn, 8 February 1990

Draft letter from the President of the United States, George H. W. Bush, to the Chancellor of the FRG, Helmut Kohl

President Bush wrote to express support for Chancellor Kohl’s efforts to reunify Germany while remaining in NATO amidst rapidly changing events in Eastern Europe and the Soviet Union. Also: Memorandum for Brent Scowcroft, 8.2.1990. Also: Memorandum for the President.

Robert D. Blackwill, USA United States of America · White House→Helmut Kohl, Germany · FRG Federal Republic of Germany · Government

[Washington,] 9 February 1990

Telegram from the Canadian Under-Secretary of State for External Affairs, de Montigny Marchand

Observations on the corridor conversations during the Open Skies Conference in Ottawa in February 1990.

Jeremy K. B. Kinsmann, Canada · Global Affairs→–

Ottawa, 15 February 1990

Memorandum for the President of the United States, George H. W. Bush

Discussion of the U.S. position in the upcoming Two-Plus-Four Talks on German reunification, particularly in light of Soviet concerns

Brent Scowcroft, USA United States of America · White House→George Herbert Walker Bush, USA United States of America · White House

Washington, D. C., 19 February 1990

Telegram from the Israeli Ambassador in Bonn, Benjamin Navon, to the Israeli Foreign Ministry

A report on Foreign Minister Arens' talks in Bonn with Chancellor Kohl and President von Weizsäcker. Arens told the latter that he sees the reunification of Germany as "a foregone conclusion". Kohl said that East Germany was rapidly collapsing, and assured Arens that "there is no Fourth Reich, and never will be."

Benjamin Navon, Israel · Embassy in Bonn→Israel · Foreign Ministry

Bonn, 20 February 1990

Telegram from the Canadian Department of External Affairs to the Canadian Embassy in Washington

Expressions of concerns that the Two Plus Four deal will squeeze Canada out of discussions about the future of Europe, notwithstanding the historic presence of Canadian forces in West Germany.

Canada · Global Affairs→Canada · Embassy in Washington

Ottawa, 21. February 1990

Statement of the Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Soviet Union, Eduard Shevardnadze

Unequivocally accepting the right of the German people to proceed with the unification of their country, the main conditions to be observed in this process by the USSR and its Western partners are summarized and then discussed in detail.

Eduard Shevardnadze, USSR Union of Soviet Socialist Republics · Ministry of Foreign Affairs→–

Prague, 17 March 1990

Memo by the Ambassador of the Soviet Union in East Berlin, Vyacheslav Kochemasov

The main priorities of the USSR relating to the unification of Germany are discussed in detail with particular reference to the impermissibility of its membership in the North Atlantic Alliance.

Vyacheslav Ivanovich Kochemasov, USSR Union of Soviet Socialist Republics · Embassy in Berlin→–

East Berlin, 29 March 1990

Guidance Telegram from the British Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, Douglas Hurd, to British Representatives Overseas

Information about progress towards German unification and the Two plus Four process.

Douglas R. Hurd, GB · Foreign Office→–

London 23 May 1990, 6 p.m.

Memo by the Polish Military Mission in West Berlin

Observations on the impact of German reunification on Polish-German relations. The need to develop pan-European cooperation based on the CSCE process with the participation of Canada and the United States.

Poland · Military mission in West Berlin→–

West Berlin, 28 May 1990

Telegram from the Canadian Ambassador in Bonn, Thomas W. Delworth, to the Canadian Department of External Affairs

Speculative reflections on the fall of the Berlin Wall, the reunification of Germany, and what it means for Europe and the world.

Thomas W. Delworth, Canada · Embassy in Berlin→Canada · Global Affairs

Bonn, 23 July 1990

Memo for the Foreign Minister of the Soviet Union, Eduard Shevardnaze

The Soviet Draft of an Agreement of the final legal settlement of the German issue to be confirmed and adopted at the Meeting of Heads of States-signatories to the Final Helsinki Act.

–→Eduard Shevardnadze

Moscow, 6 August 1990

Letter from the Deputy Undersecretary of State (Defense) of the British Foreign and Commonwealth Office, John Weston, to the British Ambassador in Bonn, Sir Christopher Mallaby

Impressions of the last 48 hours before the signature of the Treaty on the Final Settlement with Respect to Germany.

John Weston, GB · Foreign Office→Christopher Mallaby, Great Britain · Embassy in Bonn

London, 17 September 1990