NEW NOTES SENT TO MOSCOW

Press, Volume LXXXIV, Issue 25608, 24 September 1948, Page 7

NEW NOTES SENT TO MOSCOW

New Western Notes on the Berlin crisis were handed to the Russian Ambassadors in London, Washington, and Pans yesterday. It was stated officially in London that the Notes were almost identical.

The Notes replied to the non-com-mittal aide memoire handed to the Western envoys in Moscow by Mr Molotov last week. It is believed that the Notes asked for a straight-forward, unqualified notification of the Soviet stand on the Berlin currency issue and the related problems of the blockade. It is generally thought that Mr Molotov’s aide memoire was designed to confuse the technical stages of the uiscussion with the fundamental question of the Western Powers’ right to be in Berlin and share in its effective administration.

Tbe new approach to Moscow represents a modification of the United states’ policy,” says the diplomatic correspondent of the “Daily Mail.” c+? en ,.iP e United States Secretary of oate (General Marshall) arrived in * ar^ s he said that there was no use in continuing the Mosqow talks, but the french Foreign' Minister (Mr Schuman) argued that further diplomatic

efforts should be used before making what might become the final break between the Western Powers and Rus-

“This does not mean that Mr Schuman was not in favour of a policy of firmness and plain speaking, but there have been differences of view on methods, and in the present instance Mr Schuman has triumphed over General Marshall, who wanted to cut short the dealings with Russia.”

It is understood that the decision to send Notes to Moscow will defer for at least a week the question whether the Berlin issue should be referred to the United Nations.

Mr Frank Roberts (Britain), Lieu-tenant-General W. Bedell Smith (United States) and Mr Yves Chataingneau (France) arrived in Paris from Moscow yesterday for consultations on the Berlin crisis. General Lucius Clay, the United States Military Governor in Germany, and his political adviser, Mr Robert Murphy, left Paris to return to Berlin.

Sixteen members of the South African Air Force have left for Britain to join the Berlin air lift. Another 14 will leave to-day. The *crews will fly British Transport Command aeroplanes.