WEST BERLIN TREATY

Press, Volume CII, Issue 30054, 12 February 1963, Page 8

WEST BERLIN TREATY

Ulbricht Offer To City Govt. (N.Z.P.A.-lteuUT— Copyright) EAST BERLIN, February 9. The East German Communist leader. Mr Walter UlbricM. last night appealed to the West Berlin City Government—over the heads of the Allied Occupation Powers —to negotiate its own treaty to normalise relations with East Germany. In an East German television address to the people of West Berlin, Mr Uibricht said "as long as the West Berlin City Government does not dare to negotiate with the Government of the German Democratic Republic no settlement can come about" "We are prepared to sign a treaty with the City Government of West Berlin on the. normalisation of relations between the G.D.R. and West Berlin—similarly on the basis of reason and good will. "For such a treaty we have a series of demands and wishes. They concern, for example, the cessation of war-mongering and disruptive activity on West Berlin soil," he said. East Germany was. in its turn, preparer! to consider certain wishes "concerning the vital interests" of the West Berlin population, but only through "objective and regulated negotiations.” The West Berlin City Government has always refused to negotiate with the East German Government, maintaining that the Big Four Powers were responsible for negotiation of tha city's status. Mr Ulbricht said West Berlin's status must be that of a “peaceful, neutral free city in which there is no occupation statute and no NATO, bases."