RUSSIANS END FOUR-POWER RULE IN BERLIN

Chronicle (Levin), 2 July 1948, Page 5

RUSSIANS END FOUR-POWER RULE IN BERLIN

(N.Z.P.A.-

— Reuter

Serious Tuni To Germati Situation

Copyright)

Received Friday, 10. 30 a.m. LONDON> Jtlly 1. Colonel Boris Kalinin, Soviet Chief of Staff ih Berlin^ surrit moned Allied Chiefs of Staff and informed them that the FourPower rule in the city had ended and that the Allied Kommandatura no longer exists. t The- Soviet declaration is a blOw to the hope m Lohdon political quarters that the German cfisis had eased during the last 48 hours. The situation reverts to the apparently eomplete deadlock reached on June 24, when Marshal Sokolovsky declared that •the Kommandatura was "to all intents and purposes" at a h end'-. Asked whether events were mov- qffended the Russians by .leavihg ing towards war, the United States the Komlhandatura's mbeting beMilitary Governor in Germany, fore it ended.) t General Lucius Clay, said in Frank- Colonel Kalinin said that RuSfurt today: "We don't like to an- sian te'chnidal employees wO'uld reswer the question in that way. The main in the Kommandatura buildpresent conditions in Germany are ing for uhe time being to clear up very serious." the archives. As long as they were Announcing the end of the Kom- in the bUilding, the Soviet flag mandatura, Colonel Kalinin said would fly alongside the other Allied that the Russians would no longer flags and a Russian sentry would participate in any quadripartitei be nbsted at the door. Despite the meeting of the Allied body ruling ending of the Kommandatura, the Berlin. The Kommandatura had Russians would still recognise the been killed by the "behaviour of paSt Kommahdatura's ofders for Colonel Frank Howley, American Berlin. "As usual, the Soviet deleCbmmander in Berlin, and by the gation respects the quadripartite introduction of western currency in agreements. The&e agreements and Berlin." (Coionel Howiey- recently decisions remain valid for us." •- -»»• T» — - * TT.....lVr ... »« n