WEST “REDUCING THEIR RIGHTS”

Press, Volume LXXXIV, Issue 25548, 16 July 1948, Page 7

WEST “REDUCING THEIR RIGHTS”

The Russian reply said that the Western Powers were by their actions reducing their rights of participation in the occupation of Berlin. “As regards the declaration that the Western Powers will not be induced

by threats, pressure, or other actions to abandon their right to participate in the occupation of Berlin, the Soviet Government does not intend to enter into discussion of this declaration, for it has no need of a policy of pressure since by their violation of agreed decisions on the administration of Berlin the Western Powers are themselves reducing to nought their right to participation in the occupation of Berlin. “The Western Powers express readiness to begin negotiations be-

tween the four Allied occupying Powers for an examination of the situation which has arisen in Berlin, but they pass over in silence the question of Germany as a whole. “While not objecting to negotiations the Soviet Government, nowever, deems it necessary to declare, first, that it cannot link the start of these negotiations with the fulfilment of any preliminary conditions, and, second, that quadripartite negotiations could only be effective if they were not confined to the question of the administration of Berlin, since this question cannot be separated from the general question of quadripartite control in relation to Germany.” The Russian reply added that the Western Powers had infringed fourPower agreements with their separate currency reform, the introduction of special money for the Western sectors of Berlin, and their policy of splitting Germany. “The Soviet Government has frequently warned the Western Powers of the consequences of such steps, which infringe the Yalta Agreement on the demilitarisation and democratisation of Germany. The Allies had agreed to determine jointly Germany’s status, including Berlin, and to conclude a peace treaty with Germany, which should be signed by a democratic German government suitable for this purpose. The Western Powers have violated these most important points. “Demilitarisation has not been completed, and the all-important Ruhr industry has been removed from fourPower control. The reparations agreement has been sabotaged and the fourPower control machinery has been broken by the individual actions of the United States, Britain, and France. “Since the six-Power conference the United States. Britain and France have been using measures aimed at the splitting up and dismemberment of Germany, including preparations for setting up a separate West German government and separate currency reform.”