STIPULATION ABOUT FOOD AND FUEL

Press, Volume LXXXI, Issue 24614, 10 July 1945, Page 5

STIPULATION ABOUT FOOD AND FUEL

iN.Z. Press Association—Copyright) (Bee. 10 pm.) LONDON, July 9. Xhe IMilitnry Governor of the American zone of Berlin, Lionel Frank Rowlett, said at a press conference that the Burflomasler in t!ic American zone was still taking orders from !Ie Russians, and that after midnight on July 4 Marshal Zhukov Bad issued an order directing the Russian Military Government jo remain in office. Colonel Ilowlctt revealed that Russian soldiers had been tearing down proclamations which the American authorities had put U P- 1 i)C proclamations warned Berliners against disobeying the occupation laws which Supreme Allied Headarters had previously laid down. Colonel Hewlett added that when he approached General Baranov, the Russian deputy ommander in Berlin, General Baranov called in a Russian district colonel and lold him to forbid such behaviour by Red Army troops. “Tlje highest British quarters in Berlin reveal that the British Military Government has not yet begun to function because of a Russian stipulation that the British should supply food and fuel for Iho entire sector of British occupation,” reported Reuter’s correspondent yesterday. “In the meantime the Russians continue in complete control of the government of the capital. Marshal Zhukov, on the day on which the British and Americans were scheduled to take over the military government of their areas, gave orders to detachments of his military government in the British and American sectors to continue their administration. “A meeting was held later, at which Marshal Zhukov, Lieutenant-General Clay, Mr Robert Murphy, LieutenantGeneral Sir Ronald Weeks, Major-General Lync, and others discussed the question of feeding Berlin. It is authoritatively learned that no agreement was reached on this point or on the Western Allies’ proposal for a barter agreement on products from the respective areas of occupied Berlin.

"Brigadier W. R. Hinde, the Military Government chief of the British-oc-cupied zone, said: ‘We shall not operateuntil these issues are solved. I take the view that matters must be settled by the Control Commission or possibly eV, AskecHf the Western Allies might leave Berlin should the difficulties be insurmountable. Brigadier Hmde replied: ‘I do not think there is any Soubt in the minds of the British and American authorities that we should itay, Everything depends on whether matters can be settled.’ . “Brigadier Hinde disclosed that the exact official area of the British occupation zone in Berlin comprised the municipal zones of Reineckendorf. Wedding, the Tiergarten, Charlottenburg. Wilmersdorf. and Spandau. in

which there are about 900,000 Germans. The American zone contained 750,000, and the Russian zone 1,100,000. "Berlin’s ‘Big Three.’ Major-General Lyne, Major-General F. L. Parkes, and Colonel-General Gobadov, will meet within two or three days. "There are about 1000 French troops in Reineckendorf, but the French have not yet been allotted an official occupation area. They will not be represented on the Berlin Governor’s Council until their area is determined.’’ French troops have begun to take over their zone of occupation in the Rhine Province from the United States 15th Army, says the Luxemburg radio. The commander said that the zone would be administered with sternness, but with justice.