The Waikato Times. THURSDAY, JULY 12, 1945 EAST AND WEST MEET IN BERLIN

Waikato Times, Volume 106, Issue 22659, 12 July 1945, Page 4

The Waikato Times. THURSDAY, JULY 12, 1945 EAST AND WEST MEET IN BERLIN

Agreement among the occupying Powers in Berlin to pool the German food resources to feed the people of the capital appears to have solved a difficult problem and substantially improved the prospect of complete co-operation among the United Nations. For several days after the arrival of the British and American occupying forces in Berlin the military governments of those two Powers were unable to operate simply because they had no food with which to feed the population in their zones. Russia had occupied all the production area which feeds Berlin, and for obvious reasons Britain and the United States had decided against importing food for the Germans while other people were near the starvation line. By negotiation an arrangement for the pooling of resources has been reached and the British and American administrations will presumably be able to function.

There are other directions in which the policies and customs of the Western Allies and of the Russians have been at variance, which is not surprising in view of the fact that the two groups of people have been brought into direct contact for the first time. The Russian and the Anglo-American systems and methods of thought and action have grown up entirely separately. Only by a miracle could they have dovetailed when the reconquest of Europe brought them together for the first time. Until now middle Europe has always stood between them; Germany has been an unbridgeable obstacle. The explosion of war has broken down the barriers and East and West are attempting to forge the links of a friendship which both declare to be essential to the peace and orderly progress of the world. Russian diplomacy differs from that of Britain and the United States. Russia is still suspicious of her Western allies, which is an outcome of the history of events of the present century. For these reasons British people are sometimes amazed that although Generalissimo Stalin warmly welcomes friendly relations, his officials in Berlin or elsewhere place many obstacles in the way of friendly co-operation. Much is expected from the conference which is about to be held by Mr Churchill, President Truman and Generalissimo Stalin. Discussing relationships generally, Stalin said that while under the pressure of dire necessity in the war against a common enemy cooperation came simply, many difficulties came to the surface when the pressure was released. He left no doubt, however, that Russia’s desire was that the friendship should be preserved. With this overriding desire, and the willingness of Russia to recognise the complete independence of other nations, it should surely be possible to hammer out the details of a• workable relationship. Had Russia desired to embarrass Britain and the United States she could have insisted upon retaining all the resources of the area surrounding Berlin, enhanced her own prestige, and caused Britain and the United States to shift for themselves. Of course that would have been entirely unreasonable, and it is a matter for satisfaction that the Russians have recognised the fact.