BERLIN MORALE TALKS

Press, Volume CI, Issue 29718, 11 January 1962, Page 9

BERLIN MORALE TALKS

(N.Z.P.A .-Reuter—Copyright)

WASHINGTON, January 10. The West German Vice-Chancellor (Dr. Ludwig Erhard) last night put to United States officials new ideas to strengthen the morale of the people of West Berlin. The Minister spoke to reporters after several hours of conferences at the State Department with the United States Secretary of State (Mr Dean Rusk), the Under Secretary of State (Mr George Ball) and the Assistant Secretary of State for the Far East (Mr Averell Harriman). Dr. Erhard said it would be too much to say that he submitted any new plan concerning Berlin. “But we have

discussed certain ideas to fortify the morale of the Berlin population,” he said. That did not mean that West Berliners lacked morale, he said, but ‘‘they are exposed to a great deal of hardship and had to live with the wall and so on.” Dr. Erhard did not amplify his reference, which was apparently linked to remarks he made earlier after a conference with Mr Rusk at the State Department. He said then that the United States should take up the leadership of a joint Western effort, with moral and spiritual value, to combat the influence of Soviet ideology. The German Minister said the time was ripe for sueh an effort and likened it to

the United States Marshall Plan which boosted economic recovery of Europe during the post-war period. Dr. Erhard said yesterday that the West must not restrict Jspan with trade barriers. He discussed the economic role of Japan with Mr Harriman. Explaining his reference to the “Japan problem" the German Vice-Chancellor said: *'l had in mind taking into account Japan In the worldwide trade concept and the necessity of having in the East Asian region a country which stands by the Western concept in loyal fashion. For reasons of competition one should not set up any barriers which would restrict Japan.”