The Daily Alaska empire., 1945-04-23

participate in it's control, but this area was to be Russian-occupied
 After Yalta, howeer, the Ger mans unexpectedly transferred their Sixth Armored Army, including seven armored and several other infantry divisions from the Rhine to the Eastern Front to block the Russians. This helped to speed the American advance. Also there seem- ed to be definite evidence that the Germans preferred having their country occupied by American troops and surrendered in tremen- dous numbers.
 So at the height of the rapid U. S. advance, and about four days before Roosevelt's death, Stalin sent him brusque note accusing the United States of making a deal with the Nazis in order to advance more rapidly through Germany The note was couched in most caustic and critical language The inference was that a U. s. German deal had permitted the Nazis to transfer more troops to the Eastern Front and thus kill more Russians
 The President, after consultation with Churchill, answered in forth right language that U. S.-British advances were the result of the excellence of their armies, especially their preponderance of air power also that the Russians had been invited to attend the military con- ference with the Germans but had declined. This conference, held in Switzerland, was for the purpose of arranging the unconditional surrender of German troops in Italy, whose position was hopeless However, the Germans refused and the conference was fruitless.
 Roosevelts note closed with the statement that the American Armies were interested only in one thing, a quick end of the war Prime Minister Churchill sent a similar note completely supporting Roosevelt.
 Stalin then replied that if the American Army got into Berlin and the area mapped out for Rus sian occupation, it would have to withdraw later.
 U. s. Exit From Berlin
 It was at about this time, Friday, April 13, that U. s. forces had reached the suburbs of Berlin. Gen. Eisenhower then decided to with draw. His decision was based upon the following factors:
 1-If the Russians were intent on taking Berlin, American lives could be saved, and meanwhile U. s. forces could devote their time to mopping up behind the lines.
 Eff U. s. troops did take Berlin and had to withdraw later in favor of the Russians, the psychological and moral factor would be bad for the troops. It was definitely agreed at Yalta that Berlin was to be Russian occupied, and the U. s. has always stood by it's military agreements.
 3-President Roosevelt's funeral was to be held on the following day and some advisers felt that the American people should have a chance to celebrate victory later when they were not mourning over death. This, however, was sec ondary factor apd was chiefly re- sponsible for withholding the news that U. s. troops were in Potsdam.
 Russian Relations See-Saw Russian relations improved im- mediately after the withdrawal Next day Foreign Minister Molotov was appointed delegate to San Francisco and Stalirl also agreed to let the four major Polish political parties be represented in the Lublin Cabinet. It looked as if complete agreement was just around the corner.
 However, three days later things got dark again. Molotov got in one plane and flew off to the U. s. A. via Siberia, while U. s. Ambassador Hartman got in another plane