Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1945-07-11

Whether by design or otherwise, the
American troops and American repre-
sentatives in the areas assigned to Rus
STA by the Teheran and Yalta agree
ments are being made to feel that they
are not welcome.
In order to avoid unfavorable ''reac-
tons" in this country much of what
is going on in the Balkans, Central
Europe and Russian occupied Germany
is either passed in silence or dressed
up to show that only the inevitable
minor incidents are taking place.
There seems to be no friction between
the fighting men when they happen
to get together. Quite the contrary.
The American soldiers like the Rus
slams and the feeling is mutual. The
rank and file of officers are getting
along splendidly and whenever the OPP
portunity arises they entertain one an
other with drinks In the most friendly
manner.
But the Understanding officers, I'M
questionably acting under orders, are
placing all kinds of difficulties before
our men in the area where by agree
ment they are supposed to be on
duty
The Berlin incidents" Of last week
merely topped series of other Incl
dents which have not received much
prominence. Some of them occurred
before the American I'd Armored Di-
vision reached Berlin, where it found
that the prearranged understanding
between the top officers had so many
loopholes that we did not know whether
to stay in our assigned area or get
out.
American engineers arrived to estab-
lish the lines of communication for
the pending Big Three conference They
met numerous hindrances until the
commanding officer, tired of being sent
from pillar to post, demanded to see
his opposite numbers Red Army
general.
The Russian officer was most courte-
GUS and assured his colleague that the
matter Of communications for all par
ties was being efficiently taken care of
by Soviet engineers. This, of course,
did not suit the American since his in
structionS were to assure the utmost
secrecy of our wires and other means
of communication.
It Is not considered wise at an in
ternational conference of this type to
place the secret messages in the hands
OF another power even If it Is our most
friendly ally. At the San Francisco
Conference. for instance. the Russians
kept ship In the harbor from which
all communications with Moscow were
sent And the matters discussed at
San Francisco were far less secretiye
than those to be discussed at Potsdam.
After strong protest and several
days delay we were allowed to estab-
lish our own lines of communication
for the Big Three meeting. The Rus
slams, who are Realistically minded.
accepted our point of view that we
were not Russia's guests at the con-
ference but equal partners in the capi-
tai of defeated country.
We have entered the Berlin area
assigned to- us, In accordance with the
Yalta agreements. But while our pres
ence is tolerated we have not yet
obtained full right to control that sec
ton OF Berlin. The local German au-
thorities are still receiving orders from
the Russian commanders. Our friendly
representatives received the reply that
the previous agreements did not stipu-
late literally what our rights were to
be and consequently new set OF reg
ulations would have TO be issued after
another meeting Of the highest policy
trainers.