East German Media Spurn Tradition, Print Criticism : East Bloc: An unparalleled display of Soviet-style <i> glasnost</i> makes for astonishing reading in the party daily and other state-controlled papers.

The East German media, a bastion of hard-line orthodoxy, cautiously entered the Soviet-style glasnost era Saturday by printing critical letters and comments on needed reforms.

The depth and extent of the criticism was unparalleled in the 40-year history of this country’s drab print media, which traditionally have devoted most space to reports on production successes and attacks on the West.

The letters made for astonishing reading, given that East German newspapers have rarely, if ever, brooked self-criticism. Included were letters from 22 readers who wrote of tension and a disturbing atmosphere in the country, normally depicted as a workers’ and peasants’ paradise.

“We welcome dialogue,” a party member wrote to the Communist Party daily Neues Deutschland. “But we hope (Neues Deutschland) informs us in full about it.”

“The time for more realistic reporting in our media was long overdue,” wrote a worker at a top-secret uranium mine.

“I believe it’s time for a thorough explanation about the causes of the tense and uneasy situation in our country,” wrote Karin Hornig. “The time has come for our media to report what’s really going on in the country.”

Manuela Auras, from the small town of Aue, wrote: “My colleagues and I hope that there will be constructive changes, especially in the media, in travel possibilities and in industry.”

Neues Deutschland also published lengthy articles in which workers blasted visiting party officials about working conditions, unfair pay scales and travel restrictions.

Since the Communists’ ruling Politburo buckled under mounting pressure for change and announced Wednesday that it would work toward limited reforms, the media floodgates have opened with a surge of outspoken reports and letters.

“I’ve been waiting for weeks for such a statement,” said one reader, referring to the Politburo document, which said that travel, media, the economy and other areas could be discussed.

Readers of other dailies, particularly of the ruling Communist Party’s four small allied parties, have even more bluntly criticized the system.

“Whoever thinks that pluralism in East German society is fulfilled through stamp collectors’ and dog breeders’ clubs is displaying ignorance of citizens’ political maturity,” wrote a Liberal Democrat in his party’s daily, Der Morgen.

Embattled Communist Party leader Erich Honecker, facing mounting speculation that he may be forced to quit, met with leaders of the four allied parties Friday.

In an event that would have been unthinkable only a week ago, a member of East Berlin’s government talked openly on West German television about whether Honecker, 77 and ailing, is about to go.

“Only Erich Honecker himself can decide on resignation,” Dietmar Keller, state secretary at the Culture Ministry, told television reporters during a visit to Hanover, West Germany.

But he added, “If a majority of the Central Committee is of the opinion that cadre changes are important and necessary--which would be quite normal in the world and in politics--then the appropriate decisions would be made.”