Allies Plan For Indefinite Blockade Of Berlin

Chronicle (Levin), 14 July 1948, Page 5

Allies Plan For Indefinite Blockade Of Berlin

(N.Z.PA.-

-Reuter,

Copyright)

Received Wednesday, 10.5 a.m. LONDON, July 13. There is no sign of a diplomatic solution to the Berlin deadiock and the Wesern occupation authorities are forced to pian on the assumption that the Russian blockade may be continued indefinitely. The British chiefs of staff today decided that tne air lift must be increased, bufit is authoritatively believed that the number of additional transport planes available falls far short of the figure that the British Miiitary Governor, General Sir Brian Robertson, wants and would not exceed 50. Marshal of the Royal Air Forcs, Lord Tedder, will visit Berlin on July 17 to examine the problem of increasing the air lift. In Berlin today, Mr. , Arthur' Henderson, Secretary ior Air, who is visiting Germany, called the. Russian blockade of the Western Sectors "a deliberate attempt to starve 2,000,000 people." Britain was determined to resist this attempt, but the air lift could not sustain the normal standard of living. He" said another air base was being prepared in the British Zone to relieve Wunsdorf. The coal problem in Berlin is growing more serious, there being only about a montli's supply on the present reduced eonsumption. The Soviet authorities in Berlin have ordered that odences against the Soviet currency reform orders must be tried by a Russian tribunal. Legal circles interpret this a.s an attempt to divide the fourpower administration of justice in Berlin. The Moscow radio commentator, M. Umansky, said today that British policy in Berlin was totally incompatible with the interests of peace, and provided the urge for a revival of German militarism and aggression.