East German State Widens Division

Chronicle (Levin), 17 October 1949, Page 5

East German State Widens Division

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Reeeivea sunday, 7 p.m. 5 . BERLIN, Oct. 16. Russia has debided to exehange diploiiihtic missions with the East German Goverhment, aecordiiig to h Tasd message from M.oscow issued in Berlin last night by a Russian iicensed neWs agency. The United Pres9 Bei'lin CofreSpondent shys this move, inade only nihe days after the formation of the East. Ge'rman State and Closely following Stalin's message of friendship for the new regime,, is believed to be the fore-

runner of a sep'arate peaee treaty betwreen Russia and Eastern Germany. In London, the Sunday Times' diplomatic correspondent says it now seems certain that, in an attempt to offset Tito 'sMefeetion, the Soviet Governmeut has deeided that top priority • should be given to the full incorporation of Eastern Germany into the Soviet bloe of sarellite States. The paper says the Soviet Government is only awaiting what it judges to be the psycliologieai moment to demand a peaee treaty for Germany and the withdrawal of all oceupation troops. Russia hopes that the ill-feeling caused in Western Germany by dismantling and potential dissension between the Western Allies about Germany 's future, may swing German public opinion in favour of the Soviet proposals. The correspondent says it is a slender hope but the stalces are high. The British Government, aecordinglv, is believed; to be urging that as part of the proeess of eonsolidating Western Germany, Berlin should become an integral part of the new Federal Republic. A British Foreign Office spokesmah described as "nonsensical" a London newspaper report that the Western Powers would conclude a separate peaee treaty with the Bonn Government if the Soviet Union signed one with the East German regime. ' ' Though the .Kussians have so far followed us in everytliing we have done in West Germany, it does not follow we will copy them in what they do in East Gei'many, " he said. The Tiines, in a leader, warns the Western Powers that while they need tvel no particular alarm at the birth of the East German Republic so long as they can avoid a new confliet over Berlin, it would be a mistake. to believe that the new regime has no substance. ' ' 1 Instead of pretending it does not exist, it is wiser to recognise it foi what it is, namely, one more socalled people 's democraey dependent on Russian support, lacking popular baeking and riddled with Obvious weaknesses, yet despite these things, imbued with a revolutionary toughness which may, in the end, pioduee results. It widens the division of Germany and is a ehallenge to the Western Powers which cannot be ignored. " .