RUSSIAN REACTIONS.

Chronicle (Levin), 21 June 1948, Page 5

RUSSIAN REACTIONS.

LONDON, June 19. Marshal Gokolovsky has issued a proclamation to tlie German people de fduring that tlie separate currency reform coiupletes tlie splitting of Germany. It was "against the wishes ana interests of the German people and in tlie interests of the American-Britisn-French monopolists. ' ' It was a breaeh of the Potsdain decisions and control mechanism which envisaged the treatineut oi' Germany as an economic whole. Ile claimed that Russian re-pre.-entat i ves in the Control ('ounc.il had taken every opportunity to reach un agreemcnt on a Four-Povver currency reform for all Germany but tlie Western representatives used the discussions as a cloak for secretly preparing separate currency reform. Separate reform strengthened tlie political and economic position of big German capitalist reactionaries and Junkers who lielped Fascism to power and it liarnied tlie German working peo]de. The Western plan wouhl destroy trade relations within Germany, turn interzonal trade into trade as between two separate States sinc.e two dilferent carrencies would be used, and destrov tlie pre-requisites for free passenger and goods tratlic between the zones, Reuler's Berlin correspondent says this is regarded as a liint that a Russian order today sealing the frontiers of tlie Russian zone, would be enforced peniianently and not soielv whiie the currency reform is being brought into force.

Marshal Sokolovsky continued: ' 'In order to deal with the situation which Western action has created the Russian administration orders: Firstly, that currency issued in the Western Zones will not be permitted to circulate in the Russian Zone and ip Berlin which is within the Russian Zone and economically is part of the Russian Zone. Secondly, the importation of new currency notes and the old mark into the Russian Zone and Berlin will be regarded as econoinic sabotage and punished as such. ' ' He added: "Further measures to protect the interests of the people of the Russian Zone and Berlin and prevent an economic disturbance will be taken as the situation demands. The Russian mjlitary administration is convinced that the German population will support its measures and take the necessary steps to overcome difficulties, develop the economy and strengthen the Russian Zone. ' ' The Times' Berlin correspondent says the chief importance of the measures Marshal Sokolovsky announced is that tliov are speciiically applied not merplv to the Russian sector but tq Greater Berlin. Ilift claim that Grqate? Berlin is within the Russian zone, raises n serious protdem and seems to cliqllenge the continuance of the Foqr; Power administration of the capital.