BERLIN TROUBLE BEGAN AT YALTA

Gisborne Herald, Volume LXXV, Issue 22707, 4 August 1948, Page 6

BERLIN TROUBLE BEGAN AT YALTA

AT tlio moment of Avritinir, secrecy still surrounds the Kremlin meeting between 1 lie envoys of the TVostei n Powers and Marshal Stalin, and no official statement is thought likely until a progress report of the negotiations ran be issued simultaneously in London, Washington and Moscow- Needless to sav, a great deal—perhaps a decision with some eventual hearing on the question as to whether there is to be peace or war —hinges on the outcome of the talks. One hopeful augury is that Marshal Stalin himself is now in the picture. In past discussions with leaders of the. Western Powers he has proved more reasonable than his deputies, and now the opportunity of being as co-operative in this uneasy peace as he was in war has been presented to him. _ . The negotiations with the western envoys is a reminder that the trouble in Berlin actually began at a previous meeting—that between Mr, Churchill, President Roosevelt and Marshal Stalnl at Yalta. Teheran must also accept some of the blame for “a sin of omission.” It was during those discussions that the Rig Three decided to split Germany into four zones under an Allied Conti ol Council when the time came for occupation, and to divide the lulo of Berlin similarly. Britain and America gained control of the Ruhr in the west* but what they omitted to do was to secure a corridor to Berlin. Thus all communications with the capital must pass through the Russian zone. . 1 The guarantee of a permanent corridor has been dependent on Soviet goodwill and lias not been the subject of a clcai-cut agioement. That is still the position today. The Russians have yet to show the goodwill essential to a solution of the impasse. If Stalm cannot give the conciliatory lead so badly needed, it is unlikely that anybody else in Russia will ever lie in a position to do so.