POWERS’ TALKS IN BERLIN

Press, Volume LXXXV, Issue 25933, 13 October 1949, Page 5

POWERS’ TALKS IN BERLIN

RUSSIA OBJECTS TO SUSPENSION U.S. COMMANDER REJECTS PROTEST BERLIN. October 11. The Russian Commandant in Berlin (Major-General Kotikov) to-day protested to the Western Powers against the suspension of the Four-Powei talks on Berlin which were ordered by the Big Four Foreign Ministers. The American Commander (MajorGeneral Taylor) rejected the protest with the comment: “There is nothing in Major-General Kotikov’s letter to indicate that the Western Allies could be confident that the Soviet would honour its agreement with us. and that is the only basis on which we would be willing to resume discussions.” Major-General Kotikov had written: “I am convinced that public opinion will correctly evaluate the fact thai you are indulging in an artificial attempt to mask your unwillingness to abide by the decision of the Paris conference concerning the normalisation of life in Berlin. Under the circumstances. the resnonsibility for undermining the implementation of the Paris communique by the Foreign Ministers rests entirely with you.”