GULF IN BERLIN

Manawatu Standard, Volume LXV, Issue 185, 6 July 1945, Page 5

GULF IN BERLIN

METHODS OF ALLIES EARLY DECISIONS NEEDED (N.Z. Press Association.—Copyright.) (Rec. 10.45 a.m.) LONDON, July 5. British and American troops in Berlin arc seeing for themselves how vast arc the differences between the Red Army’s administration of the city and that of the major AA’estcrn Allies, states Reuter's Berlin correspondent.

The first 48 hours of the occupation indicate that decisions on questions of fraternisation, political administration, propaganda, newspapers, radio, films, food supplies and transport cannot be Jong delayed. Red Army soldiers frequent cinemas, variety shows and concert halls with German civilians. Night clubs and even cabarets carry on the night life in several of the-best-known thoroughfares. Policemen in the Bed Army sector asked a group of British correspondents whether they would care to go to a dance where there were “lots of nice girls”. Some of the most popular clubs arc actually on the British side of the demarcation line. The Red Army authorities arc clearly doing all possible to restore the trade unions and other workers’ organisations not only in Berlin but throughout the half of Germany now under Soviet control. The Russians administer tho Berlin radio station and 'four orchestras, including the Philharmonic Orchestra and the Opera House Orchestra. Giant placards setting out the policy towards the Germans as outlined in Marshal Stalin’s speeches can be seen on the roads throughout the zones of the AVestern Allies. The Russians are making it clear that their aims are the complete elimination of the Nazis on the one hand and unlimited co-operation with the Germans, even to the re-establishment of Left AVing political parties and organisations, on the other.

'The Russians have already established a civil Government organisation in the city, leaving future relations between the British and American zones and the burgomaster to be clarified. Russian-controlled newspapers circulate in the British and American zones. They are still concentrating on the manifestoes of the Communist and Social Democrat Parties, calling for the restoration of a democratic and united Germany. The Russian-controlled newspaper published in Berlin today did not mention the arrival of the British troops. British officers in Berlin today said the situation was confused. The lines ef general policy have ,not yet been laid down in certain matters which can be decided only at the “Big Three” level, but the decisions cannot be delayed indefinitely without damaging the prestige of the Allies in the eyes of the Germans.

Another correspondent reports that Marshal Zhukov iias completely restored the Governments of the old German States of Brandenburg, Mecklenburg and Saxony. Leading members of the Social Democrat and Communist Parties who wore outlawed by Hitler have been appointed to govern the provinces.