German Democratic Republic (GDR): Cultural Relations between the German Democratic Republic and UK

A file of correspondence and reports concerning cultural relations between East Germany and the United Kingdom. The documents cover developments within the current Anglo-East German cultural exchange programme; discussions on East Germany's refusal to sign a cultural convention due to a clause on the establishment of cultural centres; and East German proposals for an agreement on cooperation in science and technology. Other documents in the file cover the aims and objectives of Britain's cultural exchanges; concerns over the imbalance of exchanges in East Germany's favour; and the use of cultural exchanges by East Germany to spread political and ideological propaganda. The file also covers arrangements for visits by musicians, educational and institutional exchanges, visits by British sports teams, and the exchange of art exhibitions; and East German complaints over the sale of a piece of Meissen china at a London auction house, which it claims was stolen from a Dresden museum during the Second World War.