Outcome of Moscow Talks

Otago Daily Times, Issue 26842, 5 August 1948, Page 5

Outcome of Moscow Talks

MILITARY GOVERNOR RECALLED

New Zealand Press Association—Copyright Rec. 11 p.m. LONDON, Aug. 4. General Sir Brian Robertson, the British Military Governor in Germany, has been recalled by the Foreign Office for consultation and will arrive in London early to-day by air. According to the political correspondent of the Daily Express this step was taken by the Foreign Secretary, Mr Ernest Bevin, after studying Mr Frank Roberts’s report on the Moscow talks, but there was no official information in London last night about the exact purpose of Sir Brian’s surprise visit. Some commentators assume that it can mean only a pending and important change in the highly critical Berlin situation—but whether for better or worse, it is nof known.

The special correspondent of the Daily Mail says a complete news black-out on the delicate diplomatic negotiations between Russia and the Western Powers has been imposed at the express instructions of Mr Bevin and by common agreement among the British, American and French envoys to Moscow.

The Foreign Office has received a report on the meeting with Mr Stalin, and experts worked all night preparing it for the Cabinet Minister to study, says Reuter’s diplomatic correspondent. London diplomatic circles think there is a reasonable chance the Soviet may lift-the Berlin blockade, and the way be established for Four-Power talks at a high level on Germany and other outstanding issues. It is understood that the Kremlin discussion embraced a frank exchange of views and that the envoys left with Mr Stalin’s aides memoires summarising the attitude of the Western allies. The Associated Press correspondent in' Moscow says the morning newsnapers prominently reported the Kremlin meeting. It was the first Russian announcement of the talks. \ Secrecy still surrounds the meeting in Moscow, but it can at least be said that Four-Power discussions of both the Berlin deadlock, and the wider international divisions in Germany are a possible sequel, says The Times in a leading article. What the outcome of such discussions could be is less easy to say. Neither side wants .war, but in a contest of wills there is always a risk. The Russian blockade of Berlin bears most of the marks of an act of war, and the risk of a direct clash was hot lessened when the Western Powers began to supply the beleaguered districts by air. A solution by negotiation is now being sought, but past experience, The Times adds, is a sharp reminder that to begin talks is not to succeed in them. In Berlin. British and American officials kept a close watch on border check points for a break in the blockade because it was reasoned that if the’ meeting in the Kremlin had brought results the first hint might come in the lifting of the Soviet blockades on the railways, roadways, and waterways, says the Berlin correspondent of the Associated Press. He adds that there have so far been no signs of any relaxation of Russian vigilance along the British-American-Russian frontier. „ , . Clashes occurred when the Soviet police entered the British area of Berlin in pursuit of black marketeers, according to the British-licensed German newspaper Telegraf. German crowds lined up against the police when they manhandled a passer-by and dragged him to Soviet headquarters. The Russian-controlled paper says the passers-by went to the aid of a black marketeer and threw stones at the Soviet police, injuring an officer. The Western-appointed Berlin police chief, Dr Johannes Stumm, sent a telegram to Colonel Paul. Markgraf. the Russian-appointed police chief, demanding the immediate release of four German police, including a policewoman, arrested by Markgraf s police.