WESTERN GOVERNORS TO CONFER

Press, Volume LXXXIV, Issue 25551, 20 July 1948, Page 5

WESTERN GOVERNORS TO CONFER

French Participation In Berlin Talks SUGGESTION OF PLAN TO BREAK SIEGE

(N.Z. Press Association-— Copyright) (Rec. 11-55 P-m.) LONDON, July 19. The Western Military Governors in Germany, General Sir Brian Robertson, General Lucius Clay, and Genera Koenig are gdy to discuss when they meet to-day a suggestion thlt an armoured food tram or a convoy of armed food lorries should Sik S ™kX ' Berlin’ making his first visit to Berlin since the blockade began. S The Berlin correspondent of the “Daily Mail” savs it is known that there has been disagreement between General Koerig ?! * o T"? a " d American Governors on the way in which the Berlin situation should be handled. General Robertson and General Clay, he adds, will renew tiar efforts to persuade General Koenig to join them in a > carted front. They will emphasise that France has so far made jo appreciable contribution to the air deliveries. If it is accepted, the break through” plan will form the basis of a new fhree-Power Note to Moscow. The political correspondent of the “Daily Express” savs that the Western Powers are discussing the degree of bluntness to be used m the next Note to Moscow. Washington is believed to be pressing for a strong line, Paris wants a more conciliatory attitude, and Whitehall is trying to steer a middle coarse.

AIR DELIVERIES INCREASE

Air deliveries to Berlin are being intreased. The Americans in the 24 rurs up to 4 p.m. yesterday delivered 1506 tons of supplies to western Berlin, including 845 tons of food, and 652 tons of coal. Two hundred and ten British transports—lo 6 Dakotas, 90 Yorks, and 14 Sunderland flying-boats -in the 24 hours to noon yesterday rsde continuous flights into Berlin. Dakotas carrying coal flew in at the raw of one every 10 minutes. Nevertheless the Western Allies realise that the prospect of supplying 1500,000 Berliners by air thropgh the short days of a winter is going to be formidable, Zhe “Manchester Guardian” says that fee Western Allies for the moment toast be content to continue the air provisioning of Berlin and do all they

can to consolidate the Western defences against a new act of Russian aggression.

It is reliably learned that 70 more Skymasters from the United States will soon be used for deliveries to Berlin. This will mean a potential tonnage increase of 2100 tons daily under normal flying conditions. Each Skymaster is expected to carry a 10-ton load three times a day. The Russians yesterday sent up the greatest number of aircraft within recent days into the British and American air corridor between Berlin and Western Germany. The Russians had said that Yak fighters, transport craft, and biplanes would be over the corridors. with some practising instrument flying, from early morning until evening.

MR SHINWELL SPEAKS ON BERLIN

There was much that was explosive in the Berlin situation, but nobody wanted to fire the first shot, said the Secretary of State for War (Mr E. Shinwell) at Horden. Durham. He did not believe that anybody would. Britain, however, was not neglecting her defences. That was a normal precaution and it conveyed no threat to anybody. The Times.” in a leading article, says: “The Russians began the Berlin blockade believing that the Western Powers would be found hesitant or disunited. The cause of the Western Union will be seriously retarded if the Berlin issue turns out badly for the West The challenge requires an immediate. clear decision. Neither side desires war, yet each is being driven on by measures and counter-measures to a point where an open clash may be “If Russia intends to attempt to force the Western Allies from Berlin no end to the struggle can be seen, but if the Bossians are seeking to open a new conference on Germany the Western Powers have nothing to lose by inquiring what the Russians have in mind. The Western Powers, however, must tot yield an inch of their rights in Berlin.” The Russian official newspaper Taegliche Rundschau” says that

America will not dare to risk war to break the Berlin blockade, because she fears that Russia and her allies are too strong. It adds that even Western commentators concede that if a new war comes Russian advance troops can reach the Rhine within a few days, and the European Atlantic coast within a few weeks. ‘‘The American imperialists would not risk war now, because they know they would have the people of Europe against tnem,” it says. The Soviet-controlled Berlin radio yesterday said that “competent London quarters” now thought that a Big Four meeting on the whole German problem was the only solution of the Berlin crisis, although “the arrival of United State's Superfortresses in Britain does not fit into this picture.” Over 5000 Berliners at a meeting in the American sector cheered speakers who denounced the Russian blockade. The crowd wildly cheered .frail, grey-haired Mrs Louise Schroeder, Berlin’s Socialist Mayoress, who said: “Berlin fights for the world.” Authors, editors, actors, and student leaders addressed the meeting. An editor, Walter Karsch, said that the German Communists were trying to sell Germany into slavery.