Soviet Objections To Berlin Elections

Northern Advocate, 30 November 1948, Page 6

Soviet Objections To Berlin Elections

BERLIN, Mon. (11.30 a.m.).—Marshal Sokolovsky has protested to the British Military Governor (General Robertson) against holding municipal elections in Berlin on December 5. According to’ the Soviet-licensed German News Agency, Marshal Sokolovsky said in a letter that the Soviet military authorities, to preserve Berlin's unity, always insisted on united democratic elections for the whole dBerlin. The separate elections on December 5 had been organised to form a sepa.ate administration in the western sectors.

Marshal Sokolovsky, in his letter, said he would no longer “practise indulgence'’ towards the existing Berlin Cily Council, but would support the Communist programme. At Frankfurt, the United States Military Governor (General Clay) said the Germans, in conducting the municipal elections on December 5, were carrying out the provisions of thenown constitution, which was approved by Britain, the United States. France and Russia. The constitution provided for automatic elections every two years, unless disapproved by the occupying powers' unanimous vote." APPEAL TO WORKERS The Soviet-controlled German trade union organisation in Berlin today broadcast an appeal to all Berlin workers to demonstrate tomorrow for a unified city administration of Berlin. Sources close to the Soviet military | administration in Berlin reported that ! Marshal Sokolovsky has" approved a | plan for setting up a separate civic | administration and city assembly in: | the Soviet sector, possibly before the; j elections, says Reuters Berlin corresj pondent. I The Communist deputy-chairman | (Ottoman Geschke) called a special ! meeting of the City Assembly for tomorrow which western observers think will be the signal for the declaration of a new Communist-dominated administration, claiming to represent the whole city. STILL HOPING Hope that the Security Council would persuade the Soviet to abandon the Berlin blockade was expressed by Mr J. F. Dulles (United States) in a j broadcast from Paris quoted by the , Associated Press correspondent, j Mr Dulles said the Berlin blockade j was a bold use of force to obtain a ] political objective. "It was such an obvious violation of the Charter that iit greatly worried members of the United Nations. I “We still believe the Berlin issue ■ may bo settled,” he said. “The Se- [ curity Council may yet find a way to j bring the So*iet to the end of its I efforts to get political and economic control of all Berlin.” ; ANSWER WANTED The chairmfVT of the Security CounI cil (Dr Bramuglia) has asked the four ■ big Powers to give him their answer ' before tomorow on his proposal for setting up a neutral commission of experts to try to find a solution to the Berlin currency problem.