CLAIM BY ULBRICHT

Press, Volume XCIX, Issue 29227, 10 June 1960, Page 15

CLAIM BY ULBRICHT

“Ridiculous” Says V.S. (Rec. 10 p.m.) WASHINGTON, June 3. United States State Department officials refuse to take seriously a statement by the East German Communist leader, Mr Walter Ulbricht, boasting that he was in possession of “war plans” prepared by the United States military mission in Potsdam. Such a statement was ridiculous on the face of it, officials commented today, according to American Associated Press. Nobody would believe that so-called “war plans,” if there were any, would be prepared or kept by the military mission isolated in East Germany. The mission’s only function was to keep liaison with the Soviet occupation forces in the Communist part of Germany, they said.

It was another question whether Mr Ulbricht’s words, as quoted by the West German Socialist organisation. Youth Against Atomic Death, meant the beginning of a propaganda campaign aimed at the elimination of Western liaison missions in Potsdam, officials said.

Should this be the case, the East German Communist must know that the existence of the three Soviet missions in West Germany (Munich-Gladbaeh, Baden-Baden, and Frankfurt) depended on the existence of the Western missions in Potsdam, they said. The general belief In Washington is that the Soviets were at least as anxious to keep their missions in West Germany, as the West was u> keep its in Potsdam.

Scotland Vaaten.—Scotland was beaten 4-3 by Turkey yesterday in the last match ot its soccer tour, in earlier matches on the tour, the Scots lost 1-4 to Austria In Vienna and drew 3-3 with Hungary In Budapest.—Ankara, June 0.