EARLY AGREEMENT POSSIBLE

Chronicle (Levin), 1 September 1948, Page 5

EARLY AGREEMENT POSSIBLE

- Reuter ,

Kremlin Talks Referred T« Berlin First Four-Power Meeting Since March

(N.Z.P.A.—

povyright)

Received Wednesday, 10.20 a.m. LOND.QN, August 31. The four Allied Military Governors in Germany met for an hour in the Allied Control Council building in' Berlin tonight in the first of a series of meetings to work out details for th£ lifting of the blockade and the issuipg of the Soviet mark ip. Western Berlin under four-power supervision. Reuter's diplomatic correspondent says that the Moscow negotiations will be suspended while the Military Governors meet, although it is autliQritatively stated that the Moscow talks will last "some time longer."

The Associated. Press' Berlin correspondent says it is understood that the Kremlin discussions have been referred to Berlin because the military situation is so complicated and important principles could be compromised by diplomats unfamiliar with the technical details. It is thought that with the Military Governors working to the carefully-worded directives which they have received, agreement within a week is possible. The flags of the four occupation powers were unfurled above the Control Council building before the meeting, which is the first time the four Governors have got together since March 20, when Marshal Sokolovsky denounced the West as splitters of Germany and abruptly walked out of the chamber. Military police from the four commands were 011 guard at the building tonight. The first Russian objection came

from Russian omcers, who prqtested against the presence of Western newspaper photographers. An American officer ordered all ; photographers to leave. - The four Military Governors left the meeting seemingly in an amiable mood. The United States Military Governor, Genpral Clay, said that there would be no official statement today. Financial experts would meet tomorrow. The British Military Goyernor, Lieut.-General Sir Brian Robertson, said that the date of the Gov- , ernors' next meeting had not yet been fixed, but it is learned that they might meet tomorrow. I Reliable reports say that agreement in principle on the Russian i currency demands fias been reachj ed in Moscow. The Military Gover- | nors will thrash out details of the i procedure. | Generals Robertson and Clay : have postponed their visif to the I Ruhr on Septpmber 3 without fix- ■ ing an alternative date.