"CORRECT BUT NOT FRIENDLY"

Chronicle (Levin), 4 September 1948, Page 5

"CORRECT BUT NOT FRIENDLY"

Press Association )

Talks Continue On Berlin Issue

(Per

Received Friday, 8.50 p.m. LONDON, September 3. Britisli correspondents in Berlin state that the atmosphere at the i'our-PoAver talks between the zone commanders is correet but not l'riendly. Ai'ter last night's meeting the Russi'ans left immedialely without waitjng to eat the buffet supper prepared for them. The sl rongest preeautlons have been taken to ensiu'e seereey. General Robertson has given instruetions that no oue attached io llie Bi'itish delegation must diseuss the talks ontxide the conferenee rooms, and General Koenig has warned his staff that anyone divulging infonnation will be treated as an offender against jnilitary law. The dennan newspaper Ber Kurier reported that the teehnieal dil'fieullies whieh the Russians qnoted as an excnse for closing the Berlin railway eonneetions with the TVest have been overeome. The newspaper said repairs to the line between Magdeburg and the zmial border were now eomplete and the line would be ready to handle I'reight and passenger traffic. again. The Daily Telegraph 's Berlin correspondent sayx the Russians are anxioux to perxnade the Western Powers to resunve trade with Paxtern Germany ax soon ax possible. and 1 his may giye the Western Powers an advantage in the present bargaining negotiations. Gernians wlio have been hoarding Western inarks beeause oi' their ])remhim over Eastern zone curreney are now trying to nnload them in the belief that a general eurreney will soon be issired l'or the whole oi' Germany. The Daily Ex press claims that the cost of flying eoal into Berlin is tifty shillings i>er 100 lbs. or £56 a ton. Berlin 's winter needs are assessed at 5000 tons of coal daily. Tlie foiir military governors will meet again today, says the Associated Press 's Berlin eorres])ondent. It is understood one of the diftieulties the Western commanders eneonntered was the Knssian deniand for a favourahle exchange rate for their Eastern Germany mark in trade between East and West Germany. The Russians ai*c reported to have insisted npon a one-for-one exehange whereas German financial circles in the Western zones thonght the Western mark shonld be woi'th at least four Eastern inarks. . There is little cause for optimisni in the meetings of the military governors, says the Daily Mail's Berlin correspondent. A high Britisli of'tieial last night described the proeeedings as "stieky." The Times' Berlin correspondent says "Russian sonrees admit that the diseussions are not going as well as ex])eeted.