BERLIN CONTROL

Gisborne Herald, Volume LXXIII, Issue 22200, 10 December 1946, Page 3

BERLIN CONTROL

BID FOR COMMON SENSE SOVIET CHIEF’S ATTITUDE NEW OFFICIALS BARRED LONDON, Dec. 8. The Allied Kommandatura, which will meet on Tuesday, will make an effort to apply common sense to the question of Berlin's administration, says the Daily Telegraph’s correspondent in Berlin. An absurd position exists in that members of the administration, elected for the first time according to the democratic procedure laid down by the Allies, are unable to take office because General Kotikoct, the Soviet Governor, maintains that every election must be subjected to the Kommanctatura's approval. Members of the previous administration, who were installed before the arrival of the western Allies in

Berlin, are refusing to vacate tneir offices to the new officials. Dr. Ostrowski, the new Lord Mayor, has twice been shown the door by his predecessor, Dr. Werner.

General Pierre Koenig, French Com-mandcr-in-Chief in Germany, .said that France is not interested in joining the British-American zone merger, reports the British United Press Baden-Baden correspondent.

General Koenig said: “I have the impression that ground is being prepared in other occuoation zones ol Germany to repeat the mistakes committed alter the 1914-18 war. The Germans who want to regain tatal unity latei aie pan-Germans and not democrats even, even if they are in good faith.

The f rench plan for Germany was m-st to define the western frontiers and then replan Germany by organising local communities and then "natural States."