Evening star., 1948-06-26
Britain Charges
RussiansCreate
Siege in Berlin
Stresses Intention to
Stoy in City; Lond
Blockade Continues
BY the Assoeioied Psess

slams land blockade of Berlin
continued today, and Britain &C
cused the Soviet Union of trying
ruthlessly to create state of
siege.
With the Western powers in con-
sultation over their next step, the
British Foreign Office said the
Soviet campaign, "by starving the
helpless civilian population" of Ber-
lin, seeks to gain political advantage
at the expense of the West. The
statement added:
I'VE intend to stay in Berlin"
Backs Clay Statement.
This backed up an earlier state
ment by Gen. Lucius D. Clay, Amer
ican military governor, that no
action short Of war could drive the
Americans from Berlin.
The British commander in Ger
many, Gen. Sir Brian Robertson,
demanded today that the Russians
lift their blockade. Otherwise, he
said, the Russians must take the
blame for German suffering.
Gen. Robertson sent letter to
his Soviet counterpart, Marshal
VASTLY D. Sokolovsky, saying:
The interru otion of essential
freight cannot be neld to be a meas
ure necessary to protect the cur
rency position of the Soviet zone" :"
Convert Marks at 10 to 1.
The Berlin blockade comedies
with the Western powe"; currency
reform, and efforts by ' .sia and
the Western powefs to put their
own brands OF currency in circula-
ton here.
Money black markets were Offer
ing up to rs Russian marks for one
Western mark in the Western Sec
tors of Berlin today; until last week
the marks issued on both sides of
the occupation line had equal value.
As another angle Of the Western
zones current reform. Germans
there were told they will get back
one new Deutsche mark for 10 old
reichsmarks This will be the con-
version rate for an unspecif1ed
number of marks after go old
marks have been traded in for
Deutsche marks on a one-for -one
basis.
No rate was set for international
exchange, but the indicated goal is
a mark valued at 80 cents. Present
foreign exchange transactions are
calculated at the 30-cent rate.
Statement From Berlin.
The British statement on Berlin,
issued in London, said:
Attention has been called to a
report in Taegliche Rundschau
(of1lcial Soviet paper in Berlin) :,
which presumes to define the atti-
tude of his majesty's government
to recent events in Berlin.
"Ihe report is completely untrue
and is very far from representing
his majesty's governments real
attitude.
The statement that we intend to
stay in Berlin holds true.
The opinion of the whole world
will condemn this ruthless attempt
of the Soviet government to create
a state of siege in Berlin and so,
by starving the helpless civilian
population, to secure political ad-
vsntanges at the expense of the
other Allied powers"
N
quoted British circles as saying Brit
ain is considering methods of get
ting out of Berlin.
American Ambassador Lewis w.
Douglas called on Foreign Secretary
Bevin in London for consultations
on the tense situation.
Easing Of Embargo Denied.
An official American spokesman
at military headquarters here said
there has been no word from any
source of Russian plans to lift their
land embargo against shipments to
Berlin.
American authorities started fly
ing drugs into the city to fight the
squeeze, which took the form of
rail freight blockade and a cessa-
ton of food and brown coal sup
plies from the surrounding Russian
zone.
The Americans also announced
plans to fly in powdered and con-
densed milk for German babies.
Supplies of fresh milk have been
shut off with other food supplies
for some 100000 Berliners in the
city's western sectors. A barge was
reported to have arrived from West
ern Germany with grain and flour
today, but there was no sign of a
letup of the land embargo.
Details of Money Exchange.
The Allied announcement on
money exchange said half the con-
verted Deutsche marks will be cred
tied to a free Deutsche mark ac-
count" for immediate use. How
many will be converted is not yet