NO HEADWAY MOSCOW TALKS

Grey River Argus, 11 August 1948, Page 5

NO HEADWAY MOSCOW TALKS

ANXIETY GROWING IN BERLIN (Received August 10, at 9.45 p.m.) LONDON, August 10. The three Western Powers’ envoys on Monday had a third interview at the Kremlin with M. Molotov, Soviet Commissar of Foreign Affairs. The diplomatic writer of the “Daily Telegraph” comments, as follows: “There is growing feeling that the Western Powers have not been able to establish any basis with the Russians for higher Four Power talks on Germany. The correspondent points out that there has been no meeting in London, since August 4, of the so-called “Berlin Committee,” and this suggests that the three Western Powers have gone as far as they consider possible to meet any old or any new Russian demands, and that the instructions sent to their envoys are basic, and are not likely to be altered. The ultimate, aim of the Moscow talks is a Four Power meeting on Germany, but it is consider ed in London that the immediate problems of the Berlin blockade and the German currency question have first to be settled. “Anxiety is growing in Berlin at the continued official silence about what is going on in Moscow,” says the “Daily Telegraph’s” Berlin correspondent. In German political circles there is some apprehension, however unjustified, lest the Western Allies should sacrifice too much ground in Berlin in an effort to conciliate the Russians.

SECRECY OF ENVOYS IS MAINTAINED LONDON, August 9. On Monday afternoon, the envoys of Britain, France and the United States saw M. Molotov at the Kremlin and had a three hours’ discussion with him. The envoys received instructions from their Governments during the week-end and conferred for over an hour at the United States Embassy on Monday morning. After leaving M. Molotov, the envoys drove to the British Embassy to discuss privately their intended reports of the conference. ' Mr. Frank Roberts (Britain) before entering the embassy, said: “We had a talk with M. Molotov and that is all. M. Smirnov was also present.” The envoys would not say whether this would be the last meeting. More foreign diplomats in Moscow think that agreement will result from four-Power talks, says the Associated Press correspondent in Moscow. but he has good authority for the belief that the chances of agreement are about even. BERLIN ANXIETY “It is symptomatic of the present feeling in Berlin that the phrase ‘not another Munich', is being used in comment on the Moscow conversations, says the Berlin correspondent of‘“The Times.” “The words express both misgiving and a warning. Communist newspapers inevitably are doing all they can to encourage the view that any agreement to reopen negotiations on a four-Power basis can come only as a result of concessions by the West. The Socialist Unity Party’s newspaper “Neues Deutschland,” says: ‘The Western Powers four months ago slammed the door against an understanding. Russian counter-measures for the protection ,of the population have compelled the Western Powers to knock on the door in Moscow.’ ” The correspondent adds that tension has risen perceptibly in Berlin during the week-end because of the continuous currency chaos, the hamstringing of the magistrature, the imposition of two police forces, and uncertainty about the outcome of the Moscow negotiations. CONFLICTS IN BERLIN

In Germany to-day, the deputy American commander of Berlin, Mr. William Babcock, said the Soviet military administration had ordered the central administration of German railways to be nrepared to move coal trains from Helmstedt to Berlin “at a moment’s notice.” Mr. Babcock said that loaded coal trains were in readiness in the British zone should the Russians clear up the “technical disturbance” that had stopped all Western rail traffic into Berlin. The Soviet zone railway director, Wilhelm. Desener, denied that he received a Russian order to be prepared to move coal trains over the Helmstedt-Berlin railway line. Mr. Babcock stated he had heard the report of the Russian order from a “fairly accurate” German source but it was obviously a rumour. .Russia and the Western Powers are setting stiff competition, in the wooing of the people of Berlin. The sequence of the latest events is: First, the Russians yesterday announced a new reclothing programme in which more than 250,000 pair of stockings would be placed on the Berlin market “at reasonable prices.” Secondly, 'the British authorities announced that they would put enough good quality clothing on the market to provide every woman in the Western sector with a new dress, a length of dress material, or a new pair of shoes. The Russians then announced that their offer included, as well as stockings, 7,000,000 fashionable frocks, coats and pairs of shoes which would be available in the Soviet sector shops to-morrow. Later the Russians added the nrom’se of the “finest white bread from Ukraine wheat.” Berliners are awaiting the next British move. Meanwhile the conflict between the opposing nolice forces in the city continues. Dr. Stumir, to-day ordered the police director. Erndmann to release a German policeman arrested in the Eastern sector on the night of August 7 with the warning that Erndmann “would be faced with criminal proceedings if he ignores this order, as he has done all previous ones.” Two armed Russian soldiers arrested the United States military governor of Bad Kissingen. Lieutenant S. F. Turner, and a civilian official just inside the Russian zone on August 5. since when there has been no trace of them. It is believe* that they strayed unwittingly into the zone durincr ’ a routine harvest inspection. Their chauffeur escaned and reported

Latest Split is On Berlin Food Administration (Received August 10, 8.45 p.m.) LONDON, August 10. Berlin City Council has authorised the F'ood Administrator, Herr Paul Fuellsack, and his staff to move to new offices in Western Berlin, reports the British United Press Berlin correspondent. The Communist Deputy-Food Administrator, Herr Oskar Letsch, has refused to accept Herr Fuellsack’s instructions, and- has formed his own staff which makes a situation that is parallel to that of the Berlin police chiefs, Dr. Stumm and Colonel Markgraf. Heri’ Letsch denied that the Russians wanted to split the Food Administration.. He said: “The Russians don’t trust Herr Fuellsack sufficiently to let him carry out the Russian plan to feed all; Berlin.” German Fears Of Democratic Defeat (Rec. 10.20) LONDON, Aug. 10 Speaking in Hilderheim in the British sector of Germany, Herr Erich Ollenhauer, the Deputy Chairman of the Social Democratic Party, said: “Any yielding by the Western Powers in the Berlin question would be a defeat for democracy in Germany, and in Europe.” . . _ He added: “The situation m Berlin is a very grave one.”

London Writer Is Ordered Out Of Germany by British (Received August 10, 11.50 p.m.) LONDON, August 10. British authorities have revealed that General Sir Bian Robertson ordered Peter Netti, a casual correspondent for the London weekly journal “The Economist,” who has been visiting Berlin, to leave Germany, says the Associated Press Berlin correspondent. The authorities gave no reason for Netti s expulsion. Netti formerly was an intelligence officer with the British Control Commission. A British United Press correspondent says that Netti had been a guest in General Robertson’s house. Netti left the Gatow airport for Buckeburg, in the British zone. British police escorted him to a plane, and his luggage was examined before he left. Netti told other correspondents that he was informed he was beihg sent out of Germany because he was charged with falsely representing himself as being a member of the Control Commission. Netti said that he had. collected some documents, which he intended to use for purely literary purposes, in compiling a book on the economy of the Russian Zone in Germany. Another “Britisher” Ordered to “Get” (Received August 10. 11.55 p.m.) LONDON, August 10. The British authorities also ordered a naturalised British subject, of German birth, Kurt Berliner, who has been doing business since April, 1947 in the Russian zone, to leave Berlin. Berliner was told that his permit would not be renewed, because all trade with the Russian zone had virtually ceased. Berliner said: “It is possible that the authorities knew that I am acquainted with Netti.” A Britjsh official spokesman said, that there is no connection between the expulsion of Netti and. the refusal to renew Berliner’s military entry permit. _________________