LIAISON OFFICERS

Otago Daily Times, Issue 26781, 26 May 1948, Page 5

LIAISON OFFICERS

BERLIN POLICE HEADQUARTERS RUSSIA REGISTERS PROTEST Rec. 8 p.m. LONDON, May 24. The British Control Commission has installed a permanent liaison officer in the Communist-controlled central police headquarters, in spite of Russian protests that it is illegal, says the Associated Press correspondent in Berlin. The Americans intend to establish a similar office in the uniformed police headquarters, and the French will install an officer in the criminal police headquarters. All three buildings are in the Soviet sector of Berlin. The Berlin police worked under the Public Safety Committee of the Kommandatura, each member of which was entitled to establish liaison with the police to see that the Kommandatura policy was carried out, stated a British spokesman. He added that the Russians always had a liaison officer at police headquarters. The western Powers had visiting liaison officers, and now wished these officers to be in closer touch. The British asked the Russians for office accommodation for them and received it. Moscow radio says the Russian authorities in Berlin have ordered the Berlin police chief to refuse to obey orders from the British, United States and French military authorities. The radio described the establishment ot western liaison officers in the Berlin police headquarters as an attempt to place the city police under illegal three-Power control without Russian participation.