Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1948-08-13
ovietEvacuates
|4-Power Control
|0ffice in Berlin
Division of City Into
East and West Zones
Completed by Move
BY the Associated Press

BERLIN, Aug. 13.-The Rus
slams evacuated the Allied four
power Kommandatura Building
In Berlin today and hauled down
their flag.
This action appeared to complete
the division of Berlin between tho
East and West-at least as far as
the Russians are concerned.
The Russians withdrew July I
from the Allied Kommandatura.
which had provided four-power ad-
ministration for this city for three
years. They pulled out with the COM
ment that the Kommandatura no
longer exists"
They then announced they would
retain their sentry and flag at the
building until their archives have
been removed. The Kommandatura
is situated in the American sector
of the city.
Although they walked out on the
Allied Control Council for Germany
on March 20, the Russians still f1y
their colors and maintain sentries
at the Allied control authority
building
Secretariat Has No Work.
They also maintain a representa-
tive in the permanent Allied secre-
tariat there, which now has little
to do but exchange inter- Allied
messages and handle protocol mat
tiers.
The Allied Control Building also
is situated in the American sector.
At both buildings flags of the four
powers have flown side by side and
four-power sentry stats have been
on duty since the Western Allies
joined in the occupation of Berlin
in July, 1945.
After the Russian withdrawal
from the Kommandatura-an act
which the United States, Britain
and France refused to recognize
elected German city
government alone remained to hold
Berlin together.
Since then, however, the anti
Communist administration has been
under constant Communist attack
and several of its branches have
been split between East and West:
This includes the police force and
food administration.
The only Soviet property left in
the building were photographs OF
Prime Minister Stain and Lenin.
hanging in the chief of Stairs Office.
| Not Notified of Evacuation.
| A British spokesman said the Rus
slams had not notified them they
planned evacuation today. A Rus
sian captain drove up to the build
ing early this morning and shortly
afterward sentries withdrew with
the flag.
Asked if the Western powers
planned to set up three-power
regime, the spokesman said that
ever since the Russians left the
Kommandatura the Western Allies
have been holding meetings.
An American official told Ger
mans in the United States sector
last night that polls taken back in
the States show the Americans want
a strong stand against Russia.
The American military govern
ment spokesman. broadcasting on
an American zone hookup, declared
last night that four out Of five
Americans said the United States
should remain in Berlin even If 1t
meant war.
The American people believe that
peace is not to be found in retreat"
he said. There is, in fact evidence
that the American people feel that
the Government might well have
been firmer In its attitude toward
the Soviet Union in past negotia-
tons"
Outlook Grows Grim.
Meantime, the economic outlook
for both East and West zone Ger
mans appeared grim.
In the American occupation zone
there were mass demonstrations
against high food prices and poll
icies of the American military gov
eminent. Some 100000 Germans
were reported to have taken part
in the mass meetings.
In the Russian zone there were
new reports of food shortages. Rus
licensed papers said punitive