Telephone Call from Chancellor Helmut Kohl of the Federal Republic of Germany

In this telephone conversation between West German Chancellor Helmut Kohl and U.S. President George H. W. Bush on October 23, 1989, the two leaders discuss the revolutionary events in Hungary, Poland, and East Germany. It is clear from Kohl's summary of West Germany's approach toward Eastern Europe that he preferred a slow course of reform, based primarily on economic reforms supported by new democratic leaders, and feared instability could also result if reforms were carried out too quickly. Kohl also voiced his concern in the western press that West Germany would abandon its commitment for NATO and the European Community (EC) in exchange for reunification with East Germany. Kohl reassured President Bush that this was not true and asked the President to assist him in calming such fears. President Bush responded with full support of Kohl's policies and that he agreed that a cautious approach toward the events in the East was the best way forward.