U.S. CHIEF OPTIMISTIC ABOUT BERLIN: DETERMINED TO STAY

Gisborne Herald, Volume LXXV, Issue 22698, 24 July 1948, Page 5

U.S. CHIEF OPTIMISTIC ABOUT BERLIN: DETERMINED TO STAY

(N.Z.P.A.—Reuter— Copyright.)

(11 a.m.) LONDON, July 23. The American Military Governor in Germany, G&neral L. Clay, said in Washington today that the United States was determined to stay in Berlin, and “has the ability” to do so. General Clay, who was addressing the Congressional Foreign Affairs Committee, said he did not expect anything to happen that would involve the United States in war. Later, he appeared before a closed session of the Senate. Senators said that General Clay was “very optimistic” about finding a satisfactory solution to the Berlin problem.

The British and United States Governments are fully agreed on their general policy towards the Berlin deadlock, but the terms of their reply to Moscow have not finally been decided, says Reuter’s diplomatic correspondent.

Mr. Ernest Bevin’s chief adviser on Germany, Sir William Strang, saw two other members of the “Berlin committee, the American Ambassador, Mr. Lewis Douglas, and the French Ambassador, M. Massigii. Joint Note to Kremlin?

There is a possibility that the western Powers tnia time will address a joint Note to the Kremlin to give added weight, although British officials still think that separate Notes but, on similar lines, will be sent. It is unlikely that the Note or Notes will be sent betore next week. Britain and the United States naturally desire to secure the approval of the new French Government, when formed, but if its formation is long vaelayed Britain and the United States "might send their replies before the French Note. Well - informed quarters deny rumours that the western Powers might withdraw their plans for establishing a west German Government in order to reach a basis for discussion with Russia.

The Russian newspaper Izvestia said today that negotiations over Berlin could not be made “conditional upon preliminary stipulations.” The Soviet Government did not object to a discussion on the Berlin situation.

“It is clear that these negotiations cannot be conditional upon the people who organised the splitting of Germany and who are directly responsible for the fact that the Berlin question has arisen. It is also clear that the negotiations can be successful only if Berlin is discussed as an integral part of the general question of four-Power control over Germany.” Demands on Berlin City

The official Soviet German newspaper Taegliche Rundschau said the Berlin City Government was completely bankrupt, economically and politically. Its non-Communist majority was capitalistic and anti-Soviet. The newspaper demanded that the city Government should outlaw the western-sponsored currency and accept the Russian proposals for feeding the entire city and agree to incorporate Berlin in the Communist economic plan for the surrounding Russian occupation zone. The Wurttemberg-Baden State Parliament today carried a resolution, by 80 votes to 10, urging the dismissal of the Communist Minister of Labour, Herr Rudolf Kohl, because co-opera-tion with him had “become intolerable following the party’s attitude to the Berlin events.”

The Premier, Herr Maier, abstained from voting. The Council of Ministers is expected to dismiss Herr Kohl and appoint his successor tomorrow.

The western Powers are “on the retreat” in Berlin, according to the newspaper Neues Deutschland, the organ of the Communist-led German Socialist Unity Party. The newspaper suggests that Britain and America would best serve peace by sending home their troops who have no useful task whatever to fill in Berlin.

The overworked British planes which have been making continuous flights in the Berlin air bridge for the past month were withdrawn today for overhaul.

Only 146 British aircraft arrived at Gatow airport in 24 hours up to noon today against an average of 200 a week ago.

The Royal Air Force spokesman said that a large number of sorties in the last four weeks had brought sufficient food to enable the aircraft to be overhauled without fear of a famine. The Royal Air Force alleged two further breaches of the flying regulations in the‘British air corridor today when Soviet aircraft carried out a bombing practice and plane-to-plane firing exercises north-west -of Berlin. When Mr. Bevin spoke in the House of Commons yesterday, he said that as soon as the Berlin blockade ended Britain was ready to discuss Berlin "and other matters” with the Soviet Government.

The British Government has. therefore, made one considerable change since the three-Powcr Notes of protest were sent to Russia on July 6. These Notes said that Britain, United States and France were prepared to hold fourPower talks but only on Berlin. The. crucial point, as most London commentators point out, is whether Russia is now prepared to remove the Berlin restrictions as a preliminary to four-Powcr talks on the whole of Germany.

. “It will be a test of Russia’s real position and intentions,” says the Daily Telegraph.

SOVIET FIGHTERS CAUSE DANGER IN AIR CORRIDORS LONDON, July 22.

The British authorities in Berlin reported that Russian Yak fighters broke the flying regulations three times this morning in the Buckcburg air corridor to Berlin.

Two Yaks in one incident climbed in front of a British York transport plane at a distance of about 100 yards although the air safety rules stipulate that no aircraft shall approach within 150 yards of another. The second breach occurred when another York saw three Yaks following the aircraft towing a drogue. Drogue-towing and other such training is fordbiden in the air corridors. The third breach took place when another York reported a formation of Yaks flying into and out of cloud. It is officially announced today that Royal Air Force transports have flown 1,210.186 miles along the air corridors to Berlin since the blockade began.