NO RUHR STEEL FOR EAST GERMANY

Press, Volume LXXXVI, Issue 26032, 8 February 1950, Page 5

NO RUHR STEEL FOR EAST GERMANY

Bonn Government Acts At Allied Request

COUNTER SEEN TO RUSSIAN CHECK ON TRAFFIC

(NJZ. Press Association—Copyright) (Rec. 9 p.m.) LONDON, February 7. The West German Government has decided to stop all steel shipments to Eastern Germany.

High American officials in Bonn say that Western Germany’s decision to cut off all deliveries of Ruhr steel to the Soviet zone is the first move to impose a counter-blockade in retaliation for Russian interference with German road traffic between Western Germany and Berlin.

The decision was announced by the Federal Chancellor (Dr. Konrad Adenauer), who said: “My Cabinet has ordered the stoppage of all iron and steel supplies to the east at the request of the Allies.”

German officials say that they are entitled to take this action under the inter-zonal trade agreement signed last October. By this agreement Western and Eastern Germany agreed to exchange goods worth £50,000,000, the agreement to be suspended if either side built up a debt exceeding £1,250,000. The Soviet debt is now well above the limit.

American officials say it is significant that the West German Government acted only three hours after the American High Commissioner (Mr John J. McCloy) had predicted counter-moves against Soviet traffic delays. Mr McCloy emphasised that any steps taken by the Western Allies and the West German Government would have the American people’s complete support.

The Bonn correspondent of the British United Press says that German officials in Bonn are anxiously awaiting the first Russian reaction. The correspondent adds that the Russian restrictions on communications with Berlin continue, and early this morning about 40 vehicles were waiting at the Helmstedt check-point for clearance to Berlin. Only about seven vehicles an hour were being passed.