THE SITUATION IN BERLIN

Wanganui Chronicle, 30 June 1948, Page 5

THE SITUATION IN BERLIN

INTER-ZONE TRAFFIC FOR GERMAN NATIONALS (N.Z.P.A.—Copyright.) Recd. 5.5 p.m. London, June 29 Traffic has been permitted to resume between the Russian and Western zones of Germany for German nationals only, according to the Soviet news agency. The announcement followed unconfirmed reports that the American Military Governor (General Clay) had conferred earlier with the Russian Military Governor (Marshal Sokolovsky). Meanwhile the United States are still living planes into Berlin. More than 100 had landed by midnight and the flights continued after that. Planes have been called in from African bases to join the aerial food convoy. Allied air experts are considering the possibility of dropping coal into Berlin from the air. Planes yesterday landed 225 tons of food in Berlin, 175 tons of which is going to the Germans. British pilots reported one barrage close to the British air corridor near Megdeburg. The Communist-dominated German Socialist Unity Party appealed to the Russian authorities to provide milk from the Russian zone for children and sick persons in Berlin. The Russians cut off fresh milk from the Western sectors on Friday, when they started the blockade. Two hundred British persons, during the next few weeks, are leaving Berlin for places in the British zone under the decentralisation plan. The German news agency reported that the Berlin City Council is urging the United States to help to overcome he economic siege. Confusion over the new Deutschemark and the old Reichmark has imost stopped business in Berlin. Sellers are refusing to part with goods for either Western or Russian currency until the situation is clarified. The trade hold-up is partly due to a rumour that the Russians are printing a new mark with which they are going to flood Berlin in a fortnight’s time. The Berlin correspondent says the partial relaxation of Russian zonal frontier restrictions merely allows land travel between the Soviet and Western zones for Germans whose inter-zonal passes were issued before June 19, when the frontier was closed. There will be no resumption of railway and passenger traffic between Berlin and the western zones.