NO COMMUNIQUE

Ashburton Guardian, Volume 68, Issue 273, 28 August 1948, Page 5

NO COMMUNIQUE

FURTHER TALK AT KREMLIN Stalin Desires Solution of , Problem (N.Z.P. A.—Copyright). (Rec. 10.40 a.m) LONDON, Aug. 27. The Western envoys had a three-hour talk with IV] r Molotov at the Kremlin. M. Stalin was not present, but Andrei Vyshinski, Deputy-Foreign Minister, accompanied Mr Molotov for the first time in the present negotiations. The three envoys had a brief meeting before going to the Kremlin, and all drove to the British Embassy immediately after. Mr. Frank Roberts disappointed observers by saying “No communique to-night,” as at least an interim announcement about the month’s secret talks was expected. Observers think this was not the final Kremlin meeting. M. Stalin is believed to have stressed at the previous Kremlin meeting Russia’s desire for a peaceful settlement of East-West differences on Berlin and Germany as a whole, and sought to smooth out difficulties which have arisen in the talks. The envoys are understood to have been extremely satisfied with the nature of M. Stalin’s communication to them. , The British Foreign Office spokesman to-day described as “ill-timed and irresponsible” the Communist demonstrations in Berlin. They are only of local significance and not thought likely to influence the Moscow talks, he added. London political quarters, however, saw the demonstrations as carefully timed to gain control, or at least split the city administration before any four-Power supervision of currency could be. fixed in Moscow.

Letter to Russian Commandant Dr. Otto Suhr, president of the Berlin City AssemDly,. to-day wrote to the Soviet commandant, M. Kotikov, demanding immediate action to protect the City Council. It is reported that Dr. Suhr’s letter stated that , if the demands were not met, the City Council would be forced to find a new meeting place outside the Soviet sector. An unofficial but reliable version of the contents stated that the letter laid down that Kotikov should issue an immediate order banning all demorv strations in the Soviet sector, and the Soviet authorities should approve*, a motion which the city authorities passed some time ago banning all demonstrations and public meetings in a wide area around the City Hall, The .Anglo-American bizonal food ' authorities announced in Frankfurt new ldng-term plans to improve Berlin’s airborne food supply calculated to keep the airbridge going , through . the winter if necessary. Forty bizonal dehydration plants which are at present producing at lesjs than half capacity. will be fully ,in operation, shortly, processing vegetables for Berlin. . An American expert is studying bizonal facilities for preparing cooked foods for flying to Berlin. General Robertson, General Clay, and General Noiret had a conference at British headquarters in Berlin today. ._ The British spokesman said tne West German political situation, particularly the question of the formation of a tri-zonal area, was discussed.

POLICE REFUSE PROTECTION

AWKWARD SITUATION CREATED

(Rec. 11.55 a.m.) LONDON, Aug. 27. The deputy-mayor, Dr Friedensburg. claimed that Soviet sector, police refused to protect the Berlin Assembly and actually backed the demonstrators. “It is now questionable whether the City Parliament will remain under a situation where the police refuse protection from a small minority pressure group.” Elders will meet informally at Dr. Suhr’s home to-night to discuss the situation arising from the demonstrations. The Communist-controlled Berlin Co-operative Society organised an anti-black-market rally on the Soviet side of Potsdamer Platz to-day. Eight thousand Germans gathered in the square, and when they were eventually dispersed, 100 demonstrators, with banners, again marched to the City Hall, where they left when they found that the administrators were absent.