BLOCKADE OF BERLIN

Press, Volume LXXXIV, Issue 25550, 19 July 1948, Page 7

BLOCKADE OF BERLIN

Western Union Ministers To Discuss Moves BRITISH PLANES TO CARRY COAL FROM RUHR (N.Z. Press Association—Copyright) (Rec. 11.30 p.m.) LONDON, July 18. Reuter’s diplomatic correspondent says- that the British, French, and Benelux Foreign Ministers, at their conference at The Hague to-morrow, will discuss Berlin and steps to be taken in the event of further developments there. They will later deal with purely Western Union affairs. Another three-Power Note to Moscow is expected to be sent after the conference ends. British Dakotas now flying food to Berlin are to be diverted to-morrow to Fassburg, near Celle, to carry Ruhr coal to Berlin. The switch-over of many dozen Dakotas is possible because the flow of food to Berlin is now considered satisfactory. The Soviet authorities yesterday informed the four-Power Air Safety Centre that Russian aeroplanes would be flying on night exercises in the air corridors between Berlin and the Western zones during the night. The Berlin radio reports that railway workers have removed at various places nearly 10 miles of the Berlin-Helm-stedt railway track. The closing of, this line on June 23 by the Russians for “technical reasons” completed Berlin’s blockade.

U.S. BOMBERS ARRIVE IN BRITAIN

Superfortresses and Skymaster transports bringing staffs and supplies from the United States are landing in Britain. According to an announcement issued on Friday by the United States Embassy in London. 60 Superfortresses will be based in Britain for temporary duty. The groups will come under the control of Lieutenant-General Curtis Lemay commanding the United States Air Forces'in Europe. Air Force officials in Washington decline to say more than that the movement is part of the normal training programme, but the operation is believed to have a wider significance. It is noted that the number of aeroplanes and men is larger than is usually engaged on normal training operations. » 1 Al. Political circles m London view the dispatch of the aeroplanes as a major show of force directly linked with the Berlin crisis. The aircraft are expected to remain in Europe so long as the Berlin crisis continues. As darkness fell yesterday, 6ft high illuminated white letters in front of the control tower at Scampton airfield where the Superfortresses are landing, spelt out: “Welcome to Scampton. Throughout the day and evening there was almost a gala atmosphere as British and American air force men welcomed the incoming crews. All the

men are restricted to camp until all the aircraft have arrived. Lieutenant-General Lemay said at Wiesbaden that the Superfortresses would probably carry out “simulated bombing missions” while they were in Britain. They would also be engaged in “normal routine training flights.” They would probably land at united States bases “from time to time during the course of their mission.” Sixteen jet fighters are expected next week. They are now on their way, but are held up by bad weather in Labrador. It is not known if the let fighters will participate in “practice* missions with other American fighters now in Germany. “Russia may send a squadron of her own biggest aircraft to Berlin in answer to America’s action in sending Superfortresses to Europe, according to political circles in close touch with the Russian Military Administration,” says Reuter’s Berlin correspondent. 1 “These circles said that long confer- ' ences of Russian military leaders were held at Karlshorst yesterday to con- ' sider the Russian rejoinder. . “The Russian equivalent of the Superfortress is reported to., have the ! same fire-power as the Superfortress „ but longer range and greater speed. It ; is reported to have been developed . from a Superfortress which made a e forced landing in Manchuria in 1945.

“DRASTIC” STEPS THOUGHT LIKELY

“The Western Powers may be forced to take further drastic steps to try to break the Russian blockade of Berlin," says Reuter’s correspondent in Washington. "The first step undoubtedly was the dispatch of the Superfortresses to Britain, but diplomatic officials say that the Western Powers are contemplating further measures. The second step may be to deny Russian ships right of passage through the Panama Canal on the ground that Russia is denying right of passage in Germany. “A third step which is being considered is the application of economic sanctions to Russia, thus denying Russia badly-needed machinery and industrial materials. “A fourth step would be to arm motor convoys and dispatch them to Berlin with orders to fight their way through. . _ ,c The authorities say privately that this fourth measure would be essentially a last-ditch effort, but it would be a way of calling the Russian bluff if it is bluff —or a way of coming face

to face with the issue of war if the Russians start shooting.” The Berlin correspondent of the British United Press says that MajorGeneral William J. Donovan, President Roosevelt’s special war-time envoy and former head of the American secret service organisation, has arrived on a visit as “an ordinary citizen. He conferred with the United States Military Governor (General Lucius Clay), and later told inter Viewers: By i holding the initiative here we can uni mask Russia’s intent if she wants war, i or prevent it if she is bluffing. “If Russia is intent on war it will ■ not make any difference whether we : learn it here or 25 or even 500 nulea • farther back. The issue is not cur- • rency reform but Russia’s desire to stop the European Recovery P*oi gramme and drive us from Europe, i The Berlin correspondent of the As- ' sociated Press says it is known that other high American officials in Ber lin t share General Donovan’s opinion. They • say that the only way to discover Rusl sia’s intentions is to make a show os • force, perhaps with an armed effort to ! bring a convoy up the autobahn.

3000 FLIGHTS TO BERLIN

The pilot who brought the three thousandth air-borne load of food into Gatow airport yesterday received a bouquet of red roses, a talisman, and a kiss as a token of appreciation from the women of Berlin. With the roses was a small winged wooden horse and a letter: "To the unknown flyer, welcome and thanks for your help in our struggle for Berlin’s freedom. Berlin s women feel associated with everyone in the world who respects the rights of mankind. Long live democracy and freedom. May this talisman accompany you on all your flights and bring you good luck.” The Chief of the Air Staff (Marshal of the Royal Air Force Lord Tedder) visited Gatow airport, the field of the Royal Air Force in Berlin, on Friday. He said that, given aircraft, men and materials, the Royal Air Force could go on with the air supply operation to Berlin indefinitely. "We are already doing more than we promised," he said. “But you can never say how much you can get out of the Royal Air Force.” . At Gatow Lord Tedder was joined by the British Military Governor (Lieutenant-General Sir Brian Robertson). , „ The Foreign Office Under-Secretary in charge of German affairs (Lord Henderson) Returned yesterday from a five days’ visit to the Ruhr. He said that there had been a definite improvement in the food situation, but the rations were still inadequate.

A British and American effort to bring 16,000 tons of Czechoslovak potatoes and 80,000 tons of Polish coal into Berlin has been frustrated by the inability of the Czech and Polish Governments to arrange transport witn the Soviet Military Administration, according to a joint British and American announcement. The statement said that, in spite of the admittedly desperate dollar need of Czechoslovakia and Poland, an offer of immediate payment for the potatoes and coal was rejected in Prague and Warsaw because the Russians would not grant the necessary clearance through the Soviet zone to Berlin. Both countries were willing and anxious to sell the goods and would deliver them anywhere in the bizonal area, but they could not arrange to deliver them to the Western sectors of Berlin. , _ _. The British authorities In Berlin have banned the use of electricity for industrial purposes except where permission has been obtained from the British Military Government The Western Military Governors have ordered the German police to prevent vehicles carrying foodstuffs and coal from leaving the Western sectors of Berlin. Russian officials alleged that Amerii can aeroplanes fired rockets over the [ Russian airfield of Aldershot on Thursday night. United States Air Force : officers said that the complaint was baseless propaganda.

RUSSIAN CONTROL OF NEWSPAPERS

The Berlin correspondent of the Associated Press says that the Russians have issued a regulation that newspapers and magazines in the Russian zone must be distributed through six sales agencies—one in the Russian sector of Berlin, and one in each State in the Russian zone. The Russians will thus have effective control oyer Western and Western-licensed publications in Eastern Germany. The German newspaper. Die Welt savs that the Russians are holding more than 10.000 German men and 170 women at Buchenwald, the former Nazi concentration camp. Manv were anti-Communist German political leaders. Nearly all were arrested on the orders of the Soviet secret police. None has been given a formal trial. The Russians used physical torture to wring confessions from prisoners. “Die Welt” adds that all except a few favoured women have their heads

shaved. Some of the women have a i sickle tattooed on their shoulder. In a drive apparently designed to : convince Germans that it is not Mos- ; cow-dominated, the Communist Party ■ of Southern Germany has announced: i (1) That it is abandoning the red ■ star and the hammer and sickle as the ■ oarty symbols—“We are a German party standing for German interests, ’ and we have no connexions with Mos- ? cow,” said Mr Hugo Erlich, the i deputy-chairman of the Bavarian Com- • munists. (2) It had never been linked with the Cominform, and it did not intend « to become linked with it. The Munich correspondent of the . Associated Press says that these bold » steps could mean a definite break with Moscow, and realignment with the i West, or a subtle campaign to win new ; German votes.

SPEECHES BY BRITISH LEADERS

An overwhelming majority of Ber- . 1 liners insisted that the Western , Powers should stay in Berlin, said Mr i R. A. Eden on his return from a visit to Berlin. . I Addressing a United Nations Associ- i ation rally at Guildford, he said: “We j cannot let these people down. .All Ger- ' many west of the Iron Curtain is also i watching this issue. To attempt to • drive the Western Allies from Berlin •by inflicting harsh suffering on the . civilian population is to practise a pari ticularly odious form of international I blackmail. Let the Russians raise this callous blockade.” The Lord Chancellor (Lord Jowitt), speaking at the same meeting, said that ; he did not think there was reason for ’ despair. War would be a horrible • catastrophe. The one chance of avoid- ! ■ ing.it was to show strength. I There was immense, growing tension ; throughout the world, said the Dean of Canterbury (Dr. Hewlett Johnson) at a : national peace conference in London. ' War talk, which had reached a cres--1 cendo in the United States, had invad- ’ ed Britain, which would be the worst 1 sufferer, because Britain stood physi- • cally between the only two possible 1 antagonists.

He added that Britain should have I joined in when Russia and America I exchanged views recently. That moi ment had gone, but the Russians’ latest | Note had given another opportunity for ' four-Power talks. Dr. Johnson pleaded for a ban on I the atomic bomb, for an increase in trade negotiations, and for more talks I between the Great Powers.