Evening star., 1948-09-09
Berlin Disturbances
Reflected in World
Financial Markets
Russians Moy Be Tangled
In Own Clumsy System
And Communist Party
Bp Dapid Laurence

Disturbances in Berlin have
again given the filters to the finan-
clal markets OF the world and to
officials in London, Washington and
Paris.
There is no logic to justify the
assumption that the Russians are
negotiating with the Western Pow
ers in Moscow some form of agree
ment at the same time that dis
orders are being provoked by the
Soviets themselves in the munich
pality of Berlin. If 1t be inferred
that the Soviets do not wish any
agreement, then they hardly would
stir up trouble in Berlin as coun-
tervailing influence when they
could as we'll reject the proposals
made in Moscow at the recent con-
ferences.
The possibility exists that the
Russians are entangled in their own
clumsy system of government and
that the Communist Party, which is
seeking certain obiectives with ref
erence to the policing of Berlin it
self. is somehow working separately
from the diplomatic functionaries.
in Moscow.
Lack of Co. ordination.
Such lack of coordination ap-
pears again and again on the Soviet
scene. Contradictions are explain
able in no other way, for certainly
the Russian rulers are not so naive
as to believe the Allies will make
concessions in order to get the Ber-
lin blockade lifted only to have the
policing of Berlin itself become a
matter of dispute with Com
munist-stimulated groups in the
German capital.
When Secretary Marshall points
out publicly that the riots in Berlin
are part of an effort to set up
Communist dominated government
there, he evidently feels he can
discuss such a development public
ly without destroying the good feel
ing so necessary to the conclusion of
agreements on four power basis
In Moscow.
Strict secrecy has been the rule
with respect to the Moscow nego-
tiations. so the public generally does
not know whether the main nego-
tiations have been unavoidably in
terrupted, halted. or merely de-
ferred while the four military gov
ernors deal with actualities in Ber-
lin
Certainly. so far as the outside
world Is concerned. it cannot discern
In the conferences of the military
governors in Berlin about the
blockade any factor involving Com
munist controversies over who shall
police the city. They are two sepa-
rate and distinct matters.
1t is quite possible that Stain was
getting ready to make an amicable
settlement of the occupation of
Berlin by Allied forces when the
political forces acting through the
Communist Party decided on its
,vn to take possession of the city
government, either as means of
blocking such a settlement or as
method of exerting further pressure
on the Allies to get out Of the city.
Marshall Hint Pointed:
Whatever the answer be, it does
not seem to have been thought
through so far as the effect on the
Western governments is concerned.
If it be true that time is working
IN favor of the Allies and against
Moscow, especially as the Marshall
Plan operations begin to strengthen
Western Europe and weaken the
hold of Russia on her satellites, then
the Poltburo In Moscow will suffer
by the Communist riots in Berlin.
The overall effect is bound to be
to delay a settlement and perhaps
bring an increase in the distrust
that will be felt no matter what
agreements are reached.
For some strange reason, the
Russian government at Moscow is
either unwilling or unable to carry
on negotiation in good faith with
out some untoWard incident hap
pening that shakes the confidence
of negotiatorS from the Western
Powers. 1t hardly seems plausible
that the Russian rulers want that
TO continue, for there are no evil
dences that they want war or that
they think they can bluff the West
ern Allies to retreat. More and
more it would seem that what is
going on in Berlin is conflict on
a local level which could bring
major complications but which
could also be settled overnight by a
little bit of firm talk from the top
Soviets to the Communists below.
The hint from Secretary Mar
shall, inquiring why the Russian
military cannot preserve order in
its sector, is a pointed one and
may prove more embarrassing to the
politburo than 1t seems at first
glance.
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