Soviet Plans for Separate Rule of East Germany

Grey River Argus, 27 March 1948, Page 5

Soviet Plans for Separate Rule of East Germany

LONDON, March 25 Former staff officers of the German Army working under the personal supervision of M. Andrei Zhdanov, secretary-general of the Russian Communist Party, have completed plans to establish a separate Sovietsponsored government for Eastern Germany. This is reported by the Britishcontrolled newspaper, Die Weil, which adds that the Russians apparently are trying to force the Western Powers to establish a Western Germany administration, and then announce the formation ol an Eastern Government. On the other hand, when German police carried out extensive black market raids the Russians and Yugoslavs refused to allow them to search several Yugoslav camps, which were stated to be the headquarters oi a black market organisation. “It is realised that the Russians can create many difficulties for Britain and the United States,’’ states a correspondent. The Russian . sector of Berlin, for instance, might be incorporated in the Russian zone, and a constant political agjtation could be used to influence the population of the Western sectors. These and other difficulties may not arise, but if they do they will be faced. I mofi’-i-Ing of Marshal Sokolovsky’s withdrawal from the Control Council may prove to be, the British and American authorities have no intention of leaving Berlin. A Western withdrawal would be' a blow both to Allied prestige and German morale, for now more than ever Beilin has become for Germans i.i all parts of Germany a symbol of national unity.”