Britain Asks Soviet To Restore Berlin's Normal Traffic

Wanganui Chronicle, 28 June 1948, Page 5

Britain Asks Soviet To Restore Berlin's Normal Traffic

Recd. 5.30 p.m. Berlin, June 26 A request to restore Berlin's normal traffic communications immediately was made by the British Military Governor (General Sir Brian Robertson, in a letter to the Russian Military Governor (Marshal Sokolovsky). General Robertson declared that if Germans suffered unduly the onus would fall on the Russians. He added that hitherto he had not protested because he assumed from a Soviet announcement that the Soviet restrictions were temporary and designed to orotect the Soviet zone pending the introduction of currency conversion. However, he had heard it from the press that the Soviet Military Administration announced the suspension, on technical grounds, of all traffic on the Helmstqdt-Berlin railway, and no alternative route would be made available. Simultaneously barge traffic had been stopped. General Robertson said he was able and willing to continue his responsibility of contributing supplies for Berlin's population provided freight trains and barges were free to pass. The interruption of essential freight

could not be necessary to protect Soviet zone currencyAgency reports from Berlin state that General Clay (United States Military Governor), in a letter to Marshall Sokolovsky offered to discuss resumption of trade between the American and RRussian zones, which has been suspended since the Russians imposed transport retrictlons. A high ranking American Government official said all attainable United States transport aircraft would be pressed into service immediately to “besieged" Berlin. A British transport official announced that a barge carrying 300 tons of grain and flour arrived. Thirteen more barges are moving towards the citv. Two trains carrying potatoes have reached Berlin from Western Germany. There is no official Indication that this meant the Russians are lifting the transport embargo. A new menace to the Western Powers arose today when Communistcontrolled trade unions threatened a general strike in Berlin.