Cf. note 1
1) Following the opening of the Berlin Wall, the important information andobservation gathered by our embassy from the western and local media concerning therecent developments which occurred in Berlin during the night of 10 November and thismorning (11 November) are summarized as submitted below:
On 10 November, more than 40 thousand citizens of the German Democratic Republiccrossed to West Berlin. The crossing process continues at a rate of 100 vehicles and3,000 people per hour. It is estimated that approximately one million East Berlincitizens will cross to West Berlin for touristic purposes during the weekend. Thepolice of the German Democratic Republic are providing the necessary convenience onthe border and around the Wall, and their demeanor is moderate and pleasant. TheBerlin subway has been opened.
Over the last 24 hours, a mere 2,500 people crossing to the west indented forpermanent migration.
The citizens of East Germany are being welcomed in a festive atmosphere by theircognates in West Berlin. The traffic police are not fining them for parking illegally(negative), city-dwellers are distributing gifts, and the banks in the Federal GermanRepublic are distributing an allowance of 100 DM to each arriving guest. In the barsof West Berlin, the East German Mark was also accepted last night.
At the border gates along the Berlin Wall, there is a stampede. All the familiesseeking to cross over together with the intention to “visit” formed queues of tens ofthousands of people at the train and subway stations by the border gates.
The west and east side of the Berlin Wall, built 28 years ago over one night andresponsible for the deaths of 71,000 innocents trying to escape from the east overthe course of its existence, was demolished during the night of 10 November 1989under the supervision of engineers from the German Democratic Republic, opening theway for easy transits.
In addition to these gates, four additional gates will be opened on Tuesday, 14November. It was indicated that the number of gates for crossing to West Berlin wouldbe increased from 13 to 31. It has been suggested that the historic Brandenburg Gatewill also be opened; thousands of Berlin’s youths are sitting on the Wall at thispoint and protesting.
During the night of 10 November, Helmut Kohl
In his speech, the Prime Minister of the Federal Republic of Germany said “we are onenation, let’s struggle together.”
2) During the meeting of the Central Committee of the said party, decisionsconcerning the realisation of free democratic elections, ensuring a secret ballot,providing for the freedom of press and submitting the secret police for trial weretaken.
Thanks to the maturity of the people of the German Democratic Republic, who are awareof having suffered hard times and the moderate and rationalist attitudes of theirleaders, the incidents that are occurring are adding momentum to the shift towardsdemocracy.