MILITARY GOVERNORS’ FIRST MEETING FOR FIVE MONTHS

Grey River Argus, 2 September 1948, Page 5

MILITARY GOVERNORS’ FIRST MEETING FOR FIVE MONTHS

(Rec. 11.5) BERLIN, Sept. 1 The “Taegliche Rundschau,” the Russian Military Administration official here, quoting a Soviet Tass News Agency dispatch from Moscow, says: ‘‘Differences between the United States and Britain over Berlin has delayed the publication of a Four Power communique on the Moscow talks.

Moscow negotiations will be suspended while the Military Governors meet, although it is authoritatively stated that the Moscow talks will last for “some time longer”. It is stated that the discussions have been referred to Berlin because the monetary situation is so complicated and important principles could be compromised by diplomats unfamiliar with the technical details. It is thought that with the Military Governors working to the carefully-worded directives which they have received, agreement within a week is possible. It is stated that agreement in principle on the Russian currency demands has been reached in Moscow. The Military Governors will thrash out the details.

On Tuesday night the four Allied Military Governors in Germany met for an hour in the Allied Control Council building in Berlin, in the first of a series of meetings to work out details for the lifting of the blockade and the issuing of the Soviet mark in Western Berlin under four-Power supervision.

The flags of the four occupation Powers were unfurled above the Control Council building before the meeting, which is the first time the four Governors have got together since March 20, when Marshal Sokolovsky. the Soviet Governor, denounced the West as splitters of Germany and abruptly walked out of the chamber. Military police from the four commands were on guard at the building to-night. The first Russian objection came from Russian officers who nrotested against the presence of Western newspaper photographers. An American officer ordered all the photographers to leave. The four Military Governors left the meeting seemingly in an amiable mood.

The British-licensed German news agency said a difference of opinion arose between the Western Military Governors and Marshal Sokolovsky at the meeting to-day. The Western representatives wished to institute four-Fower control over the issue of the Eastern mark in Berlin. Marshal Sokolovsky said he understood that only a certain amount o" supervision was to be allowed, and that only over the money already in circulation. Sources close to the Soviet military administration said the Berlin currency problem was the sole purpose of the day’s meeting, and that the four Governors had authority only to draw up recommendations and pass them on to their Governments. The American Military Government in Germany later officially announced that the four Military Governors will meet on Wednesday. It is reliably reported that German railway officials have been told to stand by for September 5, indicating that the Berlin blockade might be lifted then.