TILL THE WEST SUBMITS?

Chronicle (Levin), 10 July 1948, Page 5

TILL THE WEST SUBMITS?

(N.Z.P.A.-

-Reuter,

Russians Prepared To Keep Up Blockade

Copyright)

Eeceived Friday, 7.10 p.m. LOXDON, Juiy 9." The Russians appear to be preparec to keep up their blockade of Berli n i ude'fi-nitely, says the Dhrly Telegraph speeial correspondent in Beriin. They are staking their ehances on the prob ability %hat sooner of later the Western Powers wiH have to abandon their eff'orts to feed and fuel about 2,500,00(1 Gerinans by air. The correspondent reveals that the Russians had plannod to got the Western AHies out of Beriin by August 1. A aampaign to aeMeve this, he says had been dietated from Moseow. Marshal Sokoiovsky was instrutted that in no circumstances was he to negntiate with Generals Clay and Robertsou for any a'melioration of the blockade and nothing was to be allowed to interfere with the complete imdermxning of the Anglo-American position, . At the same time the Beriin Comniun ists were instructed to proeeed with the formation of a "Shadow Government'' for Eastern Germany, whieli should take up its. work as soon as the Western Powers had gone. ' Augnst 1 as the target date for the departure of the Western Powers has had to be aband-oned, the correspondent says, but the Kussian objective remains unaffected. They' argue that if tlie issue is to be decided bv patience, they are prepared to wait patiently untit the Western Powers throw tip the sponge but there appears to be an equally infiexible deteimination on the other side to go to any limits to defeat the Russians at -their own game. The correspondent. adds: " Viewed tiere at' verv cfose quarters, the deadlock between Fast and West appears i ncapable of sohition without the most extreme eonsequences. "