Counter-blockade of East Germany Unfair In Eyes of Russians

Otago Daily Times, Issue 27038, 24 March 1949, Page 7

Counter-blockade of East Germany Unfair In Eyes of Russians

New Zealand Press Association—Copyright Rec. 11 p.m. BERLIN, Mar. 23. The Russians, through their Deputy Military Governor, Lieutenant Dratvin, admitted that the Western Allies’ counter-blockade of Eastern Germany was beginning to tell, says the Daily Mail correspondent in Berlin. General Dratvin, writing to his opposite number, Major-general George Hays, complained that the allied counter-measures were “ prejudicing trade relations between Russian-occupied territory and the United States zone.” General Dratvin declared that it was “ unfair ” to Russia. He admitted that the gradual tightening of economic and trade sanctions was preventing Russia importing vital electrodes from Western Germany. General Dratvin concluded: “The ban has prevented firms in the United States zone from carrying out contracts,” and he accused the Allies of “unjustified business practice.”

Britain. France, and the United States have decided to hold ThreePower talks on the future of Germany when their three Foreign Ministers meet in Washington to sign the Atlantic Treaty in the first week of April, says Reuter’s diplomatic correspondent. This will be the first meeting between the French Foreign Minister (M Robert Schumann), the British Foreign Secretary (Mr Ernest Bevin), and Mr Dean Acheson, since Mr Acheson became United States Secretary of State. According to usually well-informed diplomatic sources in London, the talks on Germany will deal in a general way with prospects after the West German Government has been set up.

Dr Ernst Reuter, the Lord Mayor of Western Berlin, has left by air for Washington to attend the conference of American Mayors. Re will discuss the Berlin situation with American Congressmen and diplomats. New Soviet Troops

German sources state that tens of thousands of Soviet troops newlv arrived from Russia mostly 19 and 20-year-old conscripts—are expected to participate in the eastern zone army manoeuvres which began to-day. These young troops, after the manoeuvres, which are expected to last about a-month, are likely to take over occupation duties from the existing Soviet troops, many of whom are war veterans due for demobilisation Ten thousand German members of the Soviet zone police will take part in the manoeuvres.