BERLIN EASIER

Grey River Argus, 6 April 1948, Page 5

BERLIN EASIER

RUSSIANS OFFER A PARLEY ON MILITARY TRAIN CONTROL (Received April 5, at 7.0 p.m.) LONDON, April 5. There is an easier situation in Berlin, followingon the Russians giving an indication of a willingness to discuss with the Americans certain details” concerning the movement of military trains between Berlin and the West, and on the Americans’ acceptance of the suggestion of talks, provided that there is no boarding of American trains by the Russians.

BRITISH COMMANDER’S TRAIN ENTERS BERLIN WITHOUT ANY BOARDING

(Rec. 10.20) LONDON, April 5 The British United Press correspondent at Berlin says: General Sir Brian Robertson the British Military Commander’s train arrived at Berlin today. Russian guards made no attempt to board it en route, regarding this train as a special case. Other British and American passenger trains remain suspended, though goods trains to Berlin are ar-' riving without, trouble-

Montgomery at Berlin

Field-Marshal Viscount Montgomery and the Russian Military Governor of Berlin, Marshal Sokolovsky, are expected to dine together in Berlin on Tuesday. Marshal Sokolovsky has accepted an invitation to dine with the British Military Governor, General Sir Brian Robertson. Field-Marshal Montgomery declined a statement, but pointed to his grey suit, laughed and said: “I am on holiday. Just look at my clothes.”

SOVIET’S OFFER TO DISCUSS TRAFFIC RESTRICTIONS

Situation Not Critical LONDON, April 4 The Russians at Berlin oificially notified the American authorities in Berlin that they are willing to hold a meeting for discussions to clarify their tratfic restrictions in Berlin. The Russian offer was made by the Soviet Deputy Military Governor, Lieutenant-General Dratvin, who said there was no possibility of changing tfie existing regulations. General Dratvin asserted that shady individuals and criminals had used the lack of traffic control for illegal operations and speculations in the Soviet zone. The Russians made the offer in reply to the American Note rejecting the Soviet restrictions. This is the first Russian move to renew top-level talks with rhe Americans since the Russians walked out of the Control Council on March 20. The Russians made the same offer - to the British. A United States military spokesman said the Russian reply “reaffirms the Soviet position, but expresses the willingness of the Soviet administration to clarify certain details concerning the movement of strictly military freight personnel of the American Government.’' The Russian Note mentioned no date for the discussion.

CHIEFS OF STAFF MEET The chiefs of staff of the quadripartite Beilin Kommandatura met briefly and discussed Russia’s proposals to abolish a number of kommandatura committees. A British statement issued afterwards said that the Soviet proposals did not aliect key committees, The British delegation would welcome any reorganisation which would improve the smooth workins of the Kommandatura. Examination might show the Soviet proposals to be practical. The meeting was adjourned till Monday. RUSSIANS ALLEGE PLUNDERING BY ALLIES The Soviet Deputy-Commandant (Colonel I'eiizarov'j alleged at the Kommandatura meeting that the Western Allies had robbed and plundered Berlin. He said that they had taken 1000 tons ol copper, louu tons of aluminium, and a complete printing plant. He also accused the French of having stripped the whole of their zone of industrial plants. He shouted: “This has got to stop. 1 demand it.” The United States Deputy Commandant (Colonel \J,illiam Babcock) replied; "The Soviet has hit an alltime blow, ft is incredible that the Soviet should accuse us oi plundering everything that existed in Berlin.” The French Depu.ty-Commandant (Colonel Jean le Bidault) and the British Deputy-Commanaant (.Brigadier Benson backed up Colonel Babcock. Brigadier Benson said: “When we came to Berlin we found it. a wilderness. The Russians had taken all the factories, machinery, and materials. I won’t, listen to such malicious, untrue statement from the Soviet delegate ” Colonel Velizarov replied that he would produce a list of items which the Western Powers had taken at tne next meeting. Brigadier Benson said: “This statement of robberies ties in with the inexplicable and sudden cont.ro l of transportation.” The American Chief of Staff, Brigadier Gailey, said: “We <jo, not permit shady individuals to use our military trains.” The Americans would be glad to enter discussions, but could not agree to Russians’ entry into American military traing in the Soviet zone. The United States Army has called off the air freight shuttle service to Berlin. This apparently 1 reflects. General Clay’s confidence in his ability to supply tood by rail. SITUATION NOT CRITICAL ..

The position in Germany was causing anxiety, said the Minister of Defence. Mr A. V. Alexander, speaking at Kilmarnock. There was no limit to which Britain was not prepared to go for the sake of peace, “provided we are not asked to lie down and be walked upon. By our endeavours to trade with Russia, Poland and Yugoslavia we have proved our bona fides. It is not Britain’s or Mr Bevin’s fault that we have arrived at the present situation.’’

A British Foreign Office spokesman said that the situation in Berlin was causing some inconvenience, but it was not one which c»m)d not be solved. Official reports reaching London showed that the situation was normal except for a temporary hold-up nt some trains. The Allied Kommandatura v/as functioning normally. The British military foreman at Berlin Major-General Brownjohn deplored the wsv a section of the press abroad was “playing up” the situation so as to imply that actual battle preparations had begun. There was nothing in the Russian regulations tff suggest that properly ’ documented freight for Berlin would be stoppedThe Russians had simply requested

passes for passengers, which was the same as the situation had been since the occupation. The British were willing to present passes to Russian guards as before, but could not tolerate the Russians’ entering British military trains to disturb women and children and possibly order them off for alleged infractions. He added that Berlin was no more a “besieged garrison” than it had ever been. BRITISH BUSES RUNNING The first three British buses to cross the Soviet zone to Berlin since the Russians calmped down the controls were delayea an hour at tho Russian check point at Helmstedt. The buses’ passengers included women and children. A Russian officer demanded entry to the buses with six soldiers to check the passes A British officer said he could allow only one Russian in the bug at a tipie. The Russian officer said he wanted somebody to “protect his rear” in the buses. The British officer telephoned Berlin and then while a Russian soldier stood on the., step of the bus the Russian officer inspected the passes. „ , The British control point at Helmstedt on the Anglo-Russian zonal border reported that British. drivers, bearing the new passes required bv the Russians were passing through to Berlin without difficulty.

Soviet Officer Seeks Rearguard (Received April 5, 8.10 p.m.) LONDON, April 5. “The Times” correspondent at Berlin states: On Sunday there was an incident at the Russian check point, Marienborn, on the AngloRussian zonal border, which showed the delicacy of the Berlin situation. A Russian officer insisted that his escort should accompany him into a British bus “to protect his rear. The British instructions are that only one Russian at a time should be allowed to enter buses. The British officer therefore refused the request, and he applied to Headquarters at Berlin for further instructions. A reply came that, if the Russian officer was apprehensive, he should have one man to “cover his rear.” One Russian soldiei - was then allowed to take up a position on the step of the bus. An inspection of passes was completed and the journey to Berlin was resumed. Americans Draw A Distinction (Rec. 8.30) LONDON, April 5 The Times correspondent at Berlin says: A letter from the United States Chief of Staff. Brigadier General Gailey, to the Russian Deputy Military Commander at Berlin, General Dratvin, stated that the Western occupation authorities recognised the Russians’ right to check road travellers’ identification papers, but that this' right was not applicable to military passengers and to military goods trains.

WAR OF NERVES “The Times” diplomatic correspondent says: “The Russians’ long-term intention is to squeeze the Western Allies out of Berlin, but London see the present action as part of a war of nerves, with more immediate objectives. The objectives include distracting Italian attention (with the elections only a fortnight away) from President Truman's signing of the Foreign Aid Bill and the Western Powers’ proposal to return Trieste to Italy. The war of nerves mav last until after the Italian elections—perhaps longer.” SOVIET’S ATOMIC PLANS "LONDON, April 4 Reuter’s Moscow correspondent said the Russian scientist, Mr Step'anian, in an article, says Russia is likely very soon to lead the world in the development of atomic energy for peaceful purposes.