NO NEWS MOSCOW TALK’S

Grey River Argus, 6 August 1948, Page 5

NO NEWS MOSCOW TALK’S

IS WEST GERMANY A MAIN ISSUE ?

' (Rec. 9.50) LONDON, August 5. Impenetrable official secrecy is still being maintained in London, Washington and Paris about what took place at the talk between M. Stalin and the three Western envoys in the Kremlin on Monday night.

The Daily Telegraph’s diplomatic writer, however, says that, froni the Russian reply to the original ThreePower Note, it is obvious that two matters must have figured largely m the talk, namely, the currency ques- , tion in Berlin, and decisions about Germany arising from the recent SixPower London Conference. The Russian reply claimed that the London decisions to establish a separate Government for Western Germany and separate currency reform “aimed at splitting Germany”, and violated the Potsdam Agreement. It is possible, the correspondent says, that M. Stalin, lor consideiations, may have asked the Western Powers to defer any action about establishing the Western German Government," nending a Four-Power conference. The consideration of. any such proposal would have necessitated the summoning to London of General Sir Brian Robertson, British Commander in Germany. Sir William Strang and the French and United States Ambassadors met in London. It is believed they discussed co-ordina-tion of the Western Powers’ policy on the next step in diplomatic exchanges. The next move will probably be an interview with M. Stalin or M. Molotov. Berlin Council is Hard Up (Rec. 10.5). LONDON, August 5. The spokesman of the Berlin City Council said that the Council has decided to approach all four of the occupying Powers for money to meet its obligations. The spokesman added that the Berlin Council had told the Western Military Governments that an increased supply of the Western deutschemarks for circulation in Berlin would be a good answer to the Russians’ action in freezing the bank accounts of the firms in the Western sector. The “air lift” to Berlin continues. Sixteen American jet planes which arrived in Germany two weeks ago will return to the United States tomorrow.

RUSSIANS MODIFY TRAFFIC BLOCKADE LONDON. August 5. Meanwhile the Soviet authorn.es in Germany have reopened the holder between ’Thuringia in the zone, and Bavaria in the Unitea States zone for traffic on a small scale. The Russian-licensed “Berliner Zeitung stated to-day that 45 special trains from the Western zone would pass through the Soviet zone to Leipzig for the Leipzig fair from August 29 to September 5. Other German papers quoted the Russians as saying that the line to Berlin, which has’ been closed to Western traffic for “'technical reasons,” would be opened for these trains. _ Latest Russian Story in Berlin (Rec. 11.0) LONDON, Aug. 5. Reuter's correspondent at Berlin says: The Russian-licensed paper, “National Zeitung,” repeats allegations tha: tthe United States Military Governor of Berlin, General L. Clay, and the) vßi'.itish Governpr-General, Sir Brian Robertson, will shortly be removed from their Berlin posts. The newspaper claims to have received information fro.'m, United States Republican Party circles that General Clay “will have to get off the political platform to facilitate a compromise in Moscow.” . General Clav yesterday denied that his removal is pending. Soviet Sacks Berlin Postal Men (Rec. 11.0). LONDON, Aug. 5.5 Reuter’s Agency reports:—Eleven German postal employees in the Russian sector of Berlin have been dismissed for “undemocratic and antiSoviet behaviour.” . These officials will be re-employed in the postal offices of the Western sector.

FOOD SHORTAGE IN SOVIET ZONE OF GERMANY DUE TO REQUISITIONING (Rec. 9.10) LONDON, August 5. Au acute shortage of food is reported from the Russian zone of Germany. The Times correspondent at Berlin says: This shortage is partly due to a requisitioning of food stocks in fulfilment of a Russian offer to take over the responsibility of feeding'the whole of Berlin. The food in the Russian zone is, in fact, so short, that many Berliners with relatives in the Russian zone are known to be sending them some of their own inadequate supplies. At Zittau, people crossed the frontier into Czechoslovakia in search of food. They were sent back in lorries. Public demonstrations have occurred in many areas in the Russian zone, and arrests are reported to have been made.