MOSCOW DISCUSSIONS

Press, Volume LXXXIV, Issue 25581, 24 August 1948, Page 5

MOSCOW DISCUSSIONS

West Said To Have Framed Final Terms agreement thought remote (N.Z. Press Association—Copyright) (Rec. 1120 p.m.) LONDON, August 23. The Western envoys in Moscow, during the seven dav« jinee they last saw Mr Molotov, are believed to have decided n n t be , broa n ched e . rmS ° n Wh,Ch four ' talks on German? “Observers in Moscow believe that the Western envoys will Jfr Molotov to-day and present the final Western reply ” says Reuter s Moscow correspondent. “It is thought they will then see Mr Stalin before returning to their capitals. Western observers say that, whatever the outcome, the talks will have accomplished a useful purpose in re-emphasising Western unity on Berlin. • “it looks very much as though the effort to get a settlement with the Russians on Germany is failing,” says the “Manchester Guardian to-day. “Theje is no evidence from the Russian side of willingness to meTt the Western allies even oneeighth of the way towards agreement. “The Russians in their recent general dealings have been more bellicose than ever. Mr Vyshinsky’s bullying of the Western Powers at the Danube Navigation Conference was reminiscent of the Nazi technique, and Russian displays of force in Berlin against the Western Powers and non-Communist Germans have become more and more impudent.” The diplomatic correspondent of the “Daily Telegraph” says that it is the currency question in Berlin that mainly divides the Western Powers from Russia. The Russians are insisting that their Eastern mark shall be the sole currency in Berlin. The Western Powers have said that they do not object to a unified or even the Eastern zone’s currency in Berlin provided it is under four-Power control.

FOOD STOCKS IN WESTERN ZONES

In Berlin to-day the United States Military Governor in Germany (General Lucius Clay) announced that there was enough food in the Western sectors to last 35 days. The rye and wheat harvest yield in the bizonal area was expected to be 30 per cent hisher than it was in 1947. He added that the monthly pig iron output had increased 20 per cent, in July, and that hot-rolled products had increased 27 per cent. General Clay attributed the increase to satisfactory receipts of coal and improved use of coal by steel mills. General Clay said that the black market was now confined general!’' to tobacco, coffee, and alcohol The improved food position had reduced the number of serious strikes. The British authprities yesterday announced that British aircraft had exported 123,000 deutschemarks worth of foods since the Soviet blockade began the deutschemark is unofficially Is 6d). The authorities said that food stocks in the Western sectors were greater than at the beginning of the blockade, and were adequate for essentials. The Berlin correspondent of the British United Press says that since the Berlin air lift began on June 26, British and United States aircraft have flown 26,019 flights carrying 145,470 tons of supplies. In the 24 hours ended at noon yesterday 597 aeroplanes flew 3975 tons of supplies to Berlin. “An overwhelming majority of Germans hate the Russians and want us to stay in Berlin,” said Mr Howard Beale, a member of the Australian

House of Representatives, who has returned to London from a visit to Berlin. His impression is that the Western Powers “most certainly will not get out under Russian pressure ” He said that he had met most of the British and United States military and economic chiefs in Berlin and had been impressed by their firmness, restraint, and wisdom. “The Russian attempt to discredit the Western allies has rebounded against the Russians themselves,” he said. “They have lost prestige through In the Soviet sector Berliners seemed depressed and down at heel. The economic position of the Western <-ones was steadily improving. “Unless there is war, nothing can prevent a spectacular improvement in the German economy. Western Germany in 1948 will spend £500,000.000 on imports.” Mr Beale described the Western air lift as a splendid success. It was announced yesterday that Western sector Berliners who want to register for ration cards in the Soviet sector will not be given Western sector ration cards in future. A British food official said that Western sector cards might find their way into the wrong hands. The Soviet KommandaMira has invited 25,000 Western German workers to take up work in the Soviet sector. 'The Berlin correspondent of the Associated Press says that the Soviet invitation is the fourth similar gesture the Russians have made. The Russians previously offered food and coal to all workers entering their sector, but few Western Berliners accepted.

RUSSIANS SEIZE U.S. OFFICIAL

Mr Thomas Headen, a United States official, who strayed over the British demarcation line in the Potsdamer Platz into Soviet territory yesterday was arrested by the Russians and driven away in e jeep. Mr Headen was standing in the iquare with his wife and two children when Russian military police drove up,

jumped out of the jeep, seized Mr Headen, and left his wife and children standing in the square. United States military police repeatedly telephoned the Soviet, military headquarters demanding the release of Mr Headen. The Soviet authorities ®ach time denied knowledge of the arrest of any American official. Berlin correspondents say that the seizing of Mr Headen just inside the Soviet sector of Berlin is the most serious incident between the Russians

and the Americans for months. Mr Headen’s wife screamed: “They’ve got my husband,” but the truck into which two Russian military policemen had dragged Mr Headen was driven off before anyone could make a move. Mrs Headen, with her daughter, aged 10, and her son, aged five, rushed to a British military police post 50 yards away and pleaded with soldiers to help her husband, but there was nothing they could do. Mrs Headen told reporters that she and her husband and children had gone to the Potsdamer Platz to watch black-market dealers. The United States Deputy Provost Marshal (Colonel Kelly) said that patrols along the borders had been strengthened, and reserves were being kept at the alert because of the tension.

German police in the British sector yesterday arrested Franz Erdmann, director of the Criminal Investigation Department in the Russian sector, while he was attending a boxing match at the Olympic Stadium, in the British sector. The Western police president, Dr. Stumm, threatened three weeks ago So arrest Erdmann on charges of kidnapping several Western sector policemen. The pilot of the Vampire jet fighter which made a forced landing • near Schwein, in the Soviet zone of Germany. on August 16, has returned to his station near Lubeck, says Reuter’s correspondent in Berlin. A British lorry brought back the Vampire.