Possible Consequences Of Reference

Press, Volume LXXXIV, Issue 25609, 25 September 1948, Page 7

Possible Consequences Of Reference

“FRENCH ANXIOUS ABOUT SECURITY” (N.Z. Press Association—Copyright) (Rec. 9 p in.) LONDON, September 24. "The United States faces a new immediate demand for military guarantees in Western Europe if the Berlin crisis is taken to the Lnited Nations,” says the Paris correspondent of the Associated Press. “French officials, who are resigning themsekes to the eventual transfer of the Berlin situation to the international arena, are said to be particularly anxious for France s security in the aftermath of a United Nations debase on the subject. "It is learned that the latest Western Note to Russia was sent on a direct appeal by the French Foreign Minister (Mr Schuman) for a little more patience in dealing with the Russians. The other Western Foreign Ministers decided, as a concession to Mr Schuman’s point of view, to make a final effort in Moscow before taking the Berlin question to the United Nations.

“It is predicted m all quarters in Paris that the introduction of Berlin in the United Nations will precipitate a debate of unprecedented violence and intensity.”

The London correspondent of the Associated Press says that a British Foreign Office spokesman denied that Sir Hartlev Shawcross, Britain’s delegate to the United Nations, had said that the Berlin quarrel would be taken to the United Nations General Assembly if Russia rejected the three-Power Note for a prompt settlement. The correspondent, however, said that he asked Sir Hartley Shawcross straight questions and received straight answers in a brief interview.

It is considered in London that some days must pass before the Soviet reply to the three-Power Notes can be expected.

The diplomatic correspondent of “The Times” says: “The Western Powers seem to have agreed to take the Berlin dispute to me United Nations if the Soviet reply is unsatisfactory, although tew people expect any hard results to emerge from a United Nations debate. The future of Berlin over the next few months, it is felt, will be decided by the Western Powers’ own policy and deeds—in maintaining their air lift during the winter and in making Moscow aware beyond all doubt that they are not to be moved from Berlin.’’ “There is mounting evidence that German politicians and administrators are beginning to reply vigorously to the Communist attempts to gain control of the city.” says the Berlin correspondent of the ‘’Daily Telegraph.” “As anti-Communist municipal officials are edged out of their jobs in the Soviet sector, alternative employment is being found for them in the Western sectors, and Communists are being dismissed to make room for them.

“In retaliation for the ban on Western sector newspapers in the Soviet sector, the British and American sectors have decided to ban the sate of Soviet-licensed papers in their territory from to-day-“it now appears certain that the city elections, due on November 14, will only take place in the Western sectors, ana that the Communists even there will not take part in them.” Reuter’s correspondent says that the Acting-Mayor of Berlin (Mr Iriedensburg) said he would ask the Soviet Military Government to clarify its attitude towards the city elections. He announced this after the Communist Deputy-Mayor of the Lichtenburg district (Mr Ernest Arndt) had informed him that the Soviet authorities had given orders to stop election preparations.

The Communist official press has demanded the dismissal’of Mr Friedensburg for “anti-Soviet provocations,” says the Associated Press correspondent.

The British United Press correspondent says that a Soviet tribunal in Berlin drastically reduced the sentences of 25 years’ hard labour imposed on five young Germans who participated in the antl-Commuhist demonstrations on September 9 to sentences ranging from immediate release on probation to eight years’ imprisonment. Reuter’s correspondent quotes American officials in Berlin as saying that whatever the weather* is, aeroplanes of the Berlin air lift will arrive 4u Berlin at the rate of one every three minutes during the winter months. From October 1. the hundredth day of the air lift, all Dakotas will be replaced by Skymasters, which can carry two and a half times more weight.