Evening star., 1948-09-10
Detailed Notice
On All Flights
FIotIy Refused
BY the Assoeioied Press

BERLIN, Sept. 1O.-American
officials rejected firmly today
Russian attempt to restrict the
air lift supplying blockaded Ber-
lin.
The Russians move came half
day after bloody street fighting in
the tense city in which Russian
and Soviet controlled police fired
into demonstrators.
The Russians sent a formal note
TO the four-power Berlin Air Safety
Center demanding from the United
States detailed prior notice on
every fight made to Berlin. They
asserted the data is needed in the
interests of safety"
An American Air Force official
said the safety rules are adequate
and the real intent of the Russians
was obviously another one Of their
efforts to get control of our flights
into Berlin"
The Americans have been flying
upward of 400 planes day into
the city with food, coal and other
supplies, since Russia blocked the
land approaches 79 days ago.
Information Held Adequate.
The American reply was that
United States air lift pilots are abid-
ing by established four power flying
rules and that adequate information
on their flights is being furnished
the Russians daily.
The new controversy over flying
through the corridors linking Berlin
to Western Germany was the first
in about two months. Then the
Russians also demanded fuller con-
troll over flights which cross their
occupation zone, declaring air safety
required this.
Capt. Vincin H. Gookin, Ameri-
can representative at the Air Safety
Center, said his Russian opposite, a
Capt. Gorchenko, submitted the
note.
In it the Russians made the un-
usual claim that the Allied air
corridors traversing the Soviet oc-
cupation zone and linking Berlin
with the West were established by
the Soviet commander These
corridors actually were established
by four power agreement.
Operations Unchanged
The Russians said they must have
more information on American
flights in the object of carrying
out air safety for both Soviet and
your aircraft"
The Soviets asked the Americans
To guarantee to submit beforehand
not later than one hour before
take off of each fight to or from
Berlin-the following information:
Type of plane, pilots name, altitude,
takeoff time. route, detail and object
OF fight"
Capt. Gookin told the Russians
the Americans intended to operate
as before. abiding by established
procedures as agreed to on four
power basis" He pointed out to the
Russians that much detail on hlghtS
Is already being furnished daily
through the Air Safety Center and
is available to the Soviets there.
Squeeze Seen in Move.
Capt. Gookin said the tone OF
the Soviet letter requesting guar
antees" was firmer than any OF
their previous communications on
tins subject.
1t looks like they intend a
squeeze" he said.
A senior American air officer SAID
the Russians real aim was TO get
control over our flights
He added: If they got prior in
formation on everything they de-
manded. for instance, they could
merely tell us You can't fly today
because we are going to have ali
maneuVers on those routes. This
looks like Just another attempt to
muscle in on us. but We can't afford
to let them interfere with the air
lift
American pilots said there was no
unusual air activity reported today
IN corridors over Berlin.
Meanwhile, the Russians appeared
to be having industrial troubles in
their occupation zone.
The official organ of the Com
munist- controlled Socialist Unity
Party said an extensive ring of
sabotage agents" had been arrested
CSee AIR LIFT, Page A-3D