ABSTRACT
3. The Foreign and Commonwealth Secretary said that Mr Egon Krenz had replaced Mr Erich Honecker as Chairman of the Council of State of the German Democratic Republic (GDR). Mr Krenz was talking of positive changes. The media was now a little more open. Promises had been made of freer travel. But there was no sign that the regime was prepared for genuine political reform. The GDR authorities wanted to avoid the use of force against demonstrators because of possible Soviet displeasure and West German and international reaction. But the situation remained volatile.
