Evening star., 1948-08-28
Russians Evade.
Protection Plea
By Berlin Heads
City Council Chiefs
Told to Seek Aid Of
Soviet Sector Police
BY the Asseeiotad Press

BERLIN, Aug. 28.-Berlin's So
Wet commandant today evaded
pleas by City Council leaders
that he protect their meetings
from further invasions by Com
munist demonstrators. Then he
passed the buck to the Russian
sector police.
In reply to a letter from the
council speaker, asking such protec-
ton, the commandant, Mai. Gen,
Alexander Kotikov, said he did not
understand what was desired of him,
Gen. Kotikov was asked last night
Tor assurances that City Hall-in
the Soviet sector-would be kept
clear OF rioters, who have invaded it
the past two days, forcing cancella-
ton OF assembly meetings.
His reply to the letter from So
cialist Otto Suhr, speaker of the
mainly non-Communist assembly
consisted of a series of counter
questions and was front-paged TO-
day by the official Soviet press.
"Clarifications" Asked.
The commandments reply requested
series Of Qualifications" and asked
why the City Council did not apply
to German police in City Hall dis
trlct for protection.
These same police have stood idly
by as Communists twice broke into
City Hall, took over the council
chambers and demanded the over
throw of the elected government
with the substitution of q hand
picked Communist dominated re-
gime.
Leaders of the councils non-Com-
munist majority convened early to-
day to consider Gen. Kotikov's re-
ply.
They have not announced their
next step. 1t is believed, however
that If the Russians refuse to guar
antee the council adequate protec-
ton the majority will decide to
move into Western-occupied sec
tors.
Coup Believed Likely.
A move out of the Russian zone
undoubtedly would result in the
Communists trying to force a coup
on the administration left in the
Soviet sector.
Fed had believed the council
would get anywhere with Gen.
kotikov. He has led the offensive
against the council and accused it
OF splitting the city.
The commandants 3OO-Word re-
ply asked whether the assembly
wanted him ito interfere with rela-
tlons between the Magistrat (city
government) and those workers
and employees who are not content
with the present policy of the city
parliament and demand a change. :"
Gen. Kotikov said he wanted
Qualification" of the councils re-
quest SO he could take decisions
which are in accord with the usual
democratic practice in the demo-
cratic countries of Europe"
Text of Kotikov Letter.
The following is the text of Gen,
kotlkov's letter as published in the
Soviet official organ Taegliche
Rundschau:
ITO the president of Berlin's City
Council, DR.. Suhr:
Il have received your letter of
August n. 1t is not quite clear to
us what the president of the CITY
Council requests of the Soviet COM
mander.
Il. Does he want the occupation
authorities to forbid for the time
being demonstrations and meetings
'of the population of Berlin which
are directed against the present pol
icy of the Berlin Magistrat through
out Berlin or in the Soviet sector.
or only in the district Mite (cen-
teri where the City Hall is situated?
2. Does he want the Soviet COM
mander to interfere with relations
between the Magistrat and those
workers, employees of Berlin who are
not satisfied with the present policy
of the city government and demand
change in this policy? In what
form does he desire such interfer:
ence?
Referred to Sector Police.
Does he really desire that the
City Hall should be protected from
demonstrating workers by occupa.
ton troops or by reinforced detach.
ments of German police?
why does not the Magistrat apply
in this matter directly to the Ger.
man police in the district Mite?
g. What sort of forbidden area
does the speaker want established
for future meetings of Berlin's cit,
Parliament which the workers Of
Berlin should not enter if they de.
sire and talk to Deputies of Their
Parliament. ..
Il should like as soon as possible
Qualification of the above questions
SO that can make decisions which
are within my competence and
which correspond to the usual demo-
cratic practice in the democratic
SobA1t2 ACo VA Gu1OpE.
Respectfully,
MAI. GEN. A. KOTIKOV,
Military Commander, of Berlin"
Recently Gen. Kotikov has beer
referring to himself as the military
commander of Berlin" although he
commands only the Russian sector
and has, no more power than his
three Western colleagues.
All was quiet today. at City Hall
after two days of tumultous demon
strations there by Communist
marchers.
No attempt was made to recon-
vene the Assembly today, but some
city executives were on duty at their
Offices.
Greeks Advance in ; Areas