Roanoke Rapids daily herald., 1948-10-04
Comic Episode
Is Cited As
Proof OF Idea
TUCKER
BY RAY TUCKER


volving jovial and likable Mar
shall VASTLY Sokolovsky, mill
tary commander of the Russian
sector in Berlin and the oppo-
site of General Lucius D. Clay,
convinces both the White House
and the State Department that
Stain is giving the western po-
wers a run-around in the cur
rent clash over control of Ger
many and the Reich Capital
Although the incident happen
ed some time ago, General Clay
was participant as Deputy
Commander under his predeces-
sor, General Joseph T. McNar-
ney Moreover. full report on
the affair was made to Wash
ington and to London.
The role of Sokolovsky be-
comes pertinent now because of
the insight the almost forgotten
episode casts on the Kremlins
operations. 1t should prove con-
clusively to the too wishful-
thinking diplomats. who have
complained of General Clay's
more hard-boiled and realistic
attitude toward the Russians, that
Stain and his Politburo col
leagues are the real villains of
the Wagnerian drama on the
stage of Western Europe, and
that they do not want any peace
full settlement.
HoPE-The Allies recently
published a White Paper report
ing that Stain agreed to re-
adjustment of the Berlin situa-
ton in a conference at the
Kremlin on August %. He prom
Used a lifting of the blockade,
four-power control of Russian
currency in Berlin and four
power supervision Of trade.
The dictator said that he
would notify Marshal Sokolov-
sky to sit down with the three
other military commanders in
Berlin, and arrange the details
for consummation Of the prelimi-
nary and general agreement at
the Kremlin.
1t was about this time that
earlier pessimism over prospects
of settlement disappeared
around 1900 Pennsylvania Ave
nue..
President Truman dared to
hope that he could present the
settlement as a fat accompli to
the American people, thereby
justifying his policy of "patiend,
with firmness" and winnig votes
through his success.
HARASS - President Truman
and Secretary Marshall, how
ever, were stunned when mat
tiers Immediately took turn for
the worse at Berlin. If Sokolov-
sky had received any orders from
the Kremlin to exhibit a more
friendly and conciliatory atti-
tude in the prolonged dispute,
he showed no signs Of it.
He began to harass the Anglo
American airlift after he failed
to impose conditions that would
place its operations under his
control. Red troops invaded
American and British sectors,
arresting and molesting western
guards. The "Commies" Storm
ed Berlin city hall, which lies
in the Russian zone, and tried
to take over the municipal gov
eminent.
Western authorities were in
clined to blame these excuses,
violations and uprisings on a
misunderstanding on the part of
Sokolovsky and his administra-
tive staff. Showing incredible
naivete, they figured that he
might be disobeying the krem-
Inns ukase. They still had faith
in Stain.
TooL-It was then that some
body with a long memory re-
called the earlier happening,
which demonstrated with almost
courtroom proof that the Rus
sian marshal at Berlin was an
abjectly slavish tool he was
not even an agent-of his iron
masters in Moscow.
In the earlier episode the Am
orleans and Russians were quar-
reling over the same problem
that confronts the four powers
today-namely, a jurisdictional
question. 1t was not so important
as those now involved, but it
was the same sort of dispute.
However, the military command.
ers were able to reach an agree
ment, and they assembled this
morning, as they thought, for
final and formal ratification.
To their utter amazement,
Marshal Sokolovsky arose and
denounced, Indignantly and VIC
lently, the very pact which he
had initiated only a few days
before, and which he had cele-
brated by adjourning to a near
by tavern for a glass of vooka
with his American colleagues.
He refused to sign and accused
the U. S. representatives of dou-
decreasing him.
Only toward the end of his
speech did the old fellows face
soften.