Evening star., 1948-04-02
This Changing World
Russian Move in Berlin Seen Aimed
To Make y. S. Lose Face in Europe

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Conference last fall the Soviet au-
thorities boasted that they would
make the American, British and
French occupations in the former
German and Austrian capitals the
laughing stock Of the world.
Reports reached US that Moscow
did not intend to remove the West
ern Allies by force, but aimed to
let the handful OF western soldiers
and civilians die on the vine" by
interrupting transit by means OF
drastic controls.
II because of helplessness we SUBJ
n1itted to such q fragrant breach OF
the Potsdam Agreement, the Rus
slams intended to issue an order
freezing all communications-ever
by air-between Berlin and the
western zones and forbidding the use
of the Russian-controlled road be.
tween the American airport in Aus
tria and Vienna itself.
These reports. emanating from
sources close to the Soviet head
quarters, said the Russian high
command would not use force to
compel the Western Allies to leave
the two capitals. On the contrary
they would offer allied personnel
food and other supplies on the same
scale as given to Russian soldiers, in
exchange, of course, for payment In
hard currency. Thus, American,
British and French troops would
become the wards Of the Soviet, de-
pending on the Russian commits
sariat for their needs.
The Soviet high command felt
that by leaving the Allied occupation
forces "in the air" allied prestige in
Europe would suffer. We would
either have to accept the humili-
ating situation Of being spoonfed
by the Russians or-the Russians
considered more likely-we would
pack I'D and get out Of Berlin and
Vienna.
Although the western govern
ments, which still pretend that
there has been no definite break
between the four occupation forces,
were forewarned Of what was in
store for them, there was nothing
practical they could do about 1t.
Some food and gasoline have been
stockpiled, but because Of the lack
Of adequate warehouses available
quantities are so small that 1t will
not be possible to draw on them
for more than a few weeks.
Order Known Over Europe.
It is impossible to defy with force
the Soviet order on inspection Of
railway and motor vehicles passing
through the Soviet occupation zone.
The Western Allies have a handful
of constabulary and token occupa-
ton forces in Berlin. while the
Soviet has regular army sufhcient
to overrun the whole of Germany
west of Berlin. Furthermore, they
have shown unmistakable evidence
that they intend to use that force
If the westerners refuse to comply
with their orders.
The order for inspection of all
land traffic, which Is expected to be
followed by more drastic measure
forbidding the use of other means
Of communication, is being widely
broadcast throughout Germany and
Austria.
The Soviet and satellite propa-
ganda agencies are using it lavishly
in their hourly broadcasts to Italy
to prove that neither America nor
Britain nor France has the power
to oppose any Russian edicts. Dip
lomatic notes, emanating from
Washington, London and Paris are
the only weapons of the western
bloc. Hence, these propagandists
say, the italian people should watch
their step In casting their votes at
the forthcoming election.
In short, the order Of the Soviet
military authorities in Berlin has
as its main aim not only to make us
lose face and influence with the
Germans and Austrians, but also to
intimidate the italian voters, who,
since the diplomatic coup In Trieste,
have shown unmistakahle signs
that they intend to reject q Com
munist domination Of their country.
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