Evening star., 1948-09-27

90 oAAS oSAS WI ASAiSy AAA A~SAA AAAAs
As regards control of the trade OF
Berlin. the Soviet government, con-
trary to its previous attitude, now
states its willingness to agree to the
establishment of four-power con-
troll over the issuance of licenses
for the import and export of goods
provided that agreement is reached
on all other questions. It is clear,
after more than six weeks of dis
cussions: from the Soviet gov
ernment's persistent refusal to
remove the blockade measures and
its continued insistence on other
conditions which would enable it
to destroy the authority and rights
of the United Kingdom, the United
States and France as OCCUPYING pow
ers in Berlin that this conditional
concession is illusory.
Control of Air Traffic Asked.
As regards air traffic between Ber-
lin and the Western Zones of occu-
patton, the Soviet government,
while neither afIirming nor with
drawing the demand for the par
ticular restrictions put toward by
the Soviet military governor dur
ing thek discussions in Berlin and
confirmed in its reply of September
l8, introduces another requirement
to the effect that transport by air
Of commercial freight and passen-
gers must be placed under the con-
troll of the Soviet command.
The Soviet governments note OF
September Is therefore not only
ignores the request OF the three
governments that the blockade
measures should be removed in order
that conditions may be established
which would permit the continual
ton of discussions. 1t also seeks
to impose restrictions on transport
and communications between Ber-
lin and the Western Zones which
would place the maintenance of the
forces of occupation of the three
western occupying powers and the
whole life of the Berlin population
within the arbitrary power of the
Soviet command, thus enabling the
Soviet military authorities to re-
impose the blockade at any moment
in the future if they so desired.
IL. Accordingly it is apparent
that the Soviet government had nc
intention of carrying out the under
takings to which it had subscribed
during the Moscow discussions in
August. In the face of the ex-
pressed readiness of the govern
ments of the United States, the
United Kingdom and France to
negotiate with the Soviet govern
ment all outstanding questions re-
garding Berlin and Germany as a
whole in an atmosphere free from
duress, the Soviet government has,
In fact, persisted in using duress.
Violations Charged.
It has resorted to acts of force
rather than to the processes of
peaceful settlement. It has imposed
and maintained illegal restrictions
amounting to blockade of Berlin.
1t has failed to work out in good
faith four-power arrangements for
the control of the currency of that
city. Even while the western oc-
|cupying powers were seeking agree
ment on measures to implement the
understandings reached in Moscow
the Soviet military authorities con-
doned and encouraged attempts
to overthrow the legally constituted
municipal government of Berlin.
These actions are plainly attempts
to nullify unilaterally the rights
of the western occupying powers
in Berlin, which are co-equal with
those of the Soviet Union and like
them are derived from the defeat
and unconditional surrender OF
Germany and from four-powe1
agreements to which the Soviet
government lis q party. Moreover
the use OF coercive pressure against
the western occupying powers is q
clear violation of the principles OF
the charter of the United Nations
13. The issue between the Soviet
government and the western occu-
pying powers is therefore not that
OF technical dif1iculties in commun-
ications nor that Of reaching agree
ment upon the conditions for the
regulation of the currency for Ber-
lin. The issue is that the Soviet
government has clearly shown by
its actions it is attempting by
illegal and coercive measures In
disregard of its obligations. to Sc
cure political objectives to which ii
is not entitled and which it could
not achieve by peaceful means.
Security Council Gets Case.
1t has resorted to blockade meas
ures; it has threatened the Berlin
population with starvation, disease
and economic ruin; 1t has tolerated
disorders and attempted to over
throw the duly elected municipal
government of Berlin. The attitude
and conduct of the Soviet govern
ment reveal sharply its purpose to
continue its illegal and coercive
blockade and its unlawful actions
designed to reduce the status of the
United States, the United Kingdom
and France as occupying powers ir
Berlin to one of complete subordi-
nation to Soviet rule, and thus to
obtain absolute authority over the
economic, political and social life
of the people of Berlin, and to in
corporate the city in the Soviet
Zone.
IA. The Soviet government has
thereby taken upon itself sole re-
sponsibility for creating a situation
in which further recourse to the
means of settlement prescribed ir
Article 80 of the charter OF the
United Nations is not, in existing
circumstances, possible. and which
constitutes a threat to internationa
peace and security.
In order that international peac.
and security may not be furthel
endangered, the governments o
the United States, the United King.
dom and France, therefore, while
reserving to themselves full right
to take such measures as may b.
necessary to maintain in these cir.
cumstances their position in Berlin
find themselves obliged to refer tn,
action of the Soviet government
| tn the Security Council of tn,