Johann Plattner, Austrian Foreign Ministry, 'Visit of [Mock] to Great Britain (19–21 December 1989); Meeting of Envoy Plattner with Department Head Synnott'

Visit of [Mock] to Great Britain (19–21 December 1989); Meeting of Envoy Plattner with Department Head Synnott^[1]

German Reunification

Mr. Synnott mentioned at the beginning that for weeks the majority of his time has been dedicated to the question of German reunification.

After the undersigned^[2] had explained the Austrian position on this issue (self-determination for the Germans, unification would have to take place within the European peace process) Mr. Synnott expressed himself as follows:

The British stance corresponds broadly with the Austrian. The British side is worried that reunification could be carried out emotionally by the pressure from the street, without the West or the East being able to do anything about it and that and that, above all, the security interests of the Soviet Union are not being taken into consideration by means of an act. This could compromise the position of Gorbachev and the European peace process. The British are of the opinion that guarantees for the Oder-Neisse line should be made. The British government is holding itself back with criticism of Chancellor Kohl out of solidarity with the CDU, and leaves the criticism up to France and Holland.

[…]^[3]

Vienna, on 22 December 1989

Plattner m.p.

^[1] Hilary Synnott, Head of Western Europe Department at the Foreign Office (1989–1991).

^[2] Johann Plattner Head of the Department for Western and Northern Europe of the Political Section of the Austrian Foreign Ministry (1987–1993).

^[3] Omitted were summaries on the CSCE, the European Political Cooperation and bilateral issues.