BERLIN DISCUSSIONS OPEN

Chronicle (Levin), 5 October 1948, Page 5

BERLIN DISCUSSIONS OPEN

(N.Z.P.A,

—Reuter,

Russia Ohjects To Inclusion Of ^ Complaint In Agenda Not Matter For Security Council

Copyright)

egF Received Tuesday, 10 a.m. PARIS, October 4. The United Nations^ Security Council opened its discussions on the Berlin dispute this afternoon. Mr. Vyshinsky (Russia) immediately objected to having the complaint on the agenda. He said that it was artificial to separate Berlin from the whole German problem and the council could not deal with that. Before the start of the session Mr. Vyshinsky shook hands and joked with Sir Alexander Cadogan (Britain), who sat next to him. Mi\ Warren Austin (United States) formally declared the proceedihgs open and passed the chair to Dr. Juan Bramuglia (Argentina) . As soon as the presiden't put up the agenda for adoption, Mr. Vyshinsky calmly raised his hand and began reading his objections. He declared that the three-Power complaint to the Security Council was devoid of any ground and added that it was not within the competence of the council to discuss it. Mr. Vyshinsky declared that any German capital. He called this

attemnt tp separate Berlin from the whole German problem, would be "artificial and a direct violation of Article 107 of the United Nations Charter." He argued- that the whole question of Germany was governed by international treaties and, therefore should be settled by the four occupying Powers. "The control of Germany, inciuding the situation in Berlin, can only be settled by direct negotiations between the four Powers," Mr. Vyshinsky said. "No blockage exists in Berlin." Referring to the latest Russian note, which asks for a conference; of the Council of Foreign Ministers, he added: "Isn't it strange that when action is required by this body it finds itself frozen out?" Mr. Vyshinsky said that no blockade existed because the Soviet Government had offered to supnly food and coal to the Western zones. "All rumours about bad conditions in Berlin are spread with the object of deepening the fear and war hysteria." Mr. Vyshinsky rejected categorically the Allied eharges that the Russian authorities in Berlin had encouraged the recent Communist action in the

charge ludicrous. Mr. Vyshinsky ■concluded by saying that the United Nations Charter forbade the Security Council from discussing anything concerning Germany until the four occupying Powers had written the peace treaty. The Foreign Miniters' Council offered the only legal way of settling the problem of Germany, inciuding Berlin. • Dr. Philip Jessup, replying for the United States, said that the latest Russian note did not change the situation because the Soviet still refused to lift the Berlin blockade and thus remove the threat to peace, which was the issue before the Security Council — not the whole German problem. Dr. Jessup said that after direct negotiations with the Soviet had had failed, the Western Powers had only three alternatives — to have bowed to the Soviet threat of force, used force in return, or recognised their obligation under the United Nations Charter and resort to the | United Nations. "The Soviet re- ! pudiated the machinery of peaceful settlement. If the Soviet still wants peace, then let it welcome the resort to this great peace organisation."