Willingness Expressed To Lift Berlin Blockade

Chronicle (Levin), 31 January 1949, Page 5

Willingness Expressed To Lift Berlin Blockade

(N.Z.P.A.-

—Reuter.

Bid To Stop Splitting Of Germany

Cojijifight)

Received Monday, 9.35 a.m. MOSCOW, January 30. Russia would be prepared to declare jointly with the United States that neither Government had any intefltion of resorting to war, said Marshal Stalin today. Marshal Stalin, who was replying to questions put to him by the International News Service ,also said that he would not by the International News Service, also said that he woiild not pact. He added that Russia would eo-operate with the United States in measures which would lead to gradual disarmament.

Marshal Stalin said that if the United States, Britain and France would agree to postpone the creation of a separate West German State until the Foreign Ministers' Council considered the German . problem is a whole, Russia would see no obstacles to the lifting of the transport restrictions in Berlin. It would be necessary, however, that the transport and trade restrictions introduced in retaiiation by the Three Powers be lifted.. Marshal Stalin's statements were made in answer to a series of questions by Mr. Kingsbury Smith, European general-manager of the Hearst-owned International News Service of America. The questions were submitted on January 27. Moscow radio broadcast the questions and Marshal Stalin's answers. Reuter's diplomatic correspondent says that Marshal Stalin's statement caused a stir in diplomatic quarters in London. Observers interpreted Marshal Stalin's reply on the calling off of the Berlin blockade as a last-minute bid to prevent the final snlitting of Germany by the creation of a West German Government, which is expccted in the spring.