Evening star., 1948-07-03
Western Allies
HoIdConference
WithS hSokoIovsky
Lifting Of Blockade
At Berlin Believed
Discussed at PorIey
ey the Associated Press

BERLIN, July 3.-A four power
conference, which the British
said was to discuss the Russian
blockade of Berlin, was held to-
night at the residence of Soviet
Marshal VASTLY D. SokolovSky.
The British announcement was
released about 20 minutes after the
meeting was scheduled to begin. 1t
was believed problems arising from
the circulation here of rival Eastern
and Western German currencies also
were discussed by the conferees.
The consultations, the British said.
were the result of a suggestion made
by the British commander Gen. Sir
Brian Robertson, in letter to Mar
shall Sokolovsky.
Gen. Robertson also demanded
that the Russians reopen the high
way from Western Germany and
say when rail traffic to this isolated
city can be restored. To give the
negotiations here time to materialize,
the three Western powers deferred
a protest direct to the Kremlin.
Conference Lasts Hour.
The conference with Marshal
Sokolovsky lasted about an hour On
their return the three western
Communications. Lucius D. Clay,
Gen. Robertson and French Gen.
Roger Noiret-Went into another
conference at Gen. Clays head
quarters.
There was no immediate an
nouncement about the results of
their talks with the Russian COM
mander.
The Soviet clamp-down on Ber-
Inns rail and highway lifelines to the
west was imposed two weeks ago.
American and British authorities
countered by assigning great air
fleets to bring food and essential
supplies to the 2,500,000 Germans in
the western sectors of the city.
The announcement of the meeting
was made in an atmosphere of ten
sion. American authorities said the
Russians and their German Com
munist allies may seek to grab con-
troll of the city government.
The American Military Govern
ment newspaper Neue zeitung re-
ported the imposition by the Rus
slams Of new economic sanction-a
trade boycott against the United
States, British and French sectors
of the city.
According to the newspaper, the
Soviet central headquarters for Ber-
lin has prohibited the sale of ANY
products-rationed or unrationed"
to the western sectors. Neue lei
tung published an order to this effect
1t said was sent by the Russians to
German manufacturers and trades
men in the Treptow district.
Would Resist Upset.
Louis Chaser, chief of the Amer
ican Military Governments civil
administration section, said the
Western Allies would resist any
Soviet attempt to upset four power
control of the elected German city
government. That government is
dominated by the anti-Communist
Social Democratic (Socialist) Party.
Whether the Russians try to dis
solve or merely grab control of the
city government, we are prepared
for any such eventuality," Mr..
Chaser said.
Future operations of the city gov
ernment we're made uncertain by
Russia,s withdrawal from the Allied
Kommandatura. The four power
Komfnandatura has exercised super
visory control over the magistrat,
the executive body which submits
all major legislation for approval.
Berlins city hall is in the Soviet
sector
With suspension of Kommandatura
functions, it was presumed the
magistrat would report to each of
the four occupying powers separate
ly. All four still have liaison officers
attached to city hall.
Separation Plans Denied.
Hermann Matern. leader in the
Soviet-sponsored Socialist Unity
Party, asserted recently that the
Russians had ordered Berlin's So
cialist lord mayoress, Mrs. Louise
Schroeder, to take orders only from
them. Later, Matern said his an
nouncement had been a mistake.
Berlin's Socialist Press COM
mented: Probably his only mis-
take was that he spoke too soon.
At any rate, he gave us hint of
what the Communist course
will be-"
controlled newspap pers al
(See GERMAN, Page A-3D