Evening star., 1948-07-26
u. ). and Britain
Cut Soviet Rail
Link 10 West
New Moves to Counter
Berlin Blockade Called
Economic Sanctions
BY the Associated Press

BERLIN, July 26.-The United
States and Britain banned move.
ments of trains today to- ano
from the Russian Zone of Ger.
many. American officials sale
technical difficulties" caused the
stoppage.
The joint British actor
appeared to be the most positive
counter-move yet taken by the
Western Allies to break the Russian
blocade of Berlin, now month old
American and British officials In
Frankfurt orally termed the rail
stoppage economic sanctions"
Olso in defiance of Russian oppo-
sition, the military Governors OF
the three Western zones and Ger
man political leaders reached final
agreement on plans for a govern
ment in Western Germany. The
plan for Western Germany and the
introduction of a new Western Ger
man currency provoked the block
ade. The agreement leaves the way
open for future participation by the
Russian zone.
Gems. Lucius D. Clay and Sir
Brian Robertson, the American and
British military governors, ordered
the rail ban at a conference in
Frankfurt. The restrictions are effec-
tive at once. The prohibition is
against the movement of all trains
originating or terminating" in the
Soviet zone.
When the Russians stopped traf-
f1c on the long railway between
Berlin and the Western zones OF
Germany, they asserted technical
difficulties" were the cause.
Diplomats Confer in London. l..
(The London ranking diplo-
mats Of the United States, Bri-
tain and France appeared to be
arranging for talks with Russia
on the Berlin blockade and
other German problems.
(There was speculation about
either another four-poWer meet
ing of the Foreign Ministers
Council or talks directly between
President Truman and Prime
Minister Stain. In Washington,
the White House denied any such
talks were planned.
MANY believe the basic rea-
son for the Russian blockade of
Berlin is to force the Western
powers to reopen the whole Ger
man question:
International Mail to Pass.
A certain number of freight trains
have been moving into and through
the American, British and French
zones carrying manufactured and
raw material products from the
Russian zone.
The American British action
means that trains carrying goods
from the Russian zone to SWitzer-
land, or to Bremen for shipment tc
Scandinavia, no longer can travel
through Western Germany. The
same ban applies to traffic from
Western Europe if its destination is
in the Russian zone.
International mail trains will be
permitted to pass, however. So will
trains from Eastern countries as
for instance, Poland. Russian trains
returning German prisoners of wal
also will be permitted to enter the
| Western Zones.
An American Military Govern
ment official said the action may
have "far reaching economic and
political ramif1cations."
American and British officials have
hesitated long time before taking
the step because of its adverse ef-
feet on countries trading with the
Soviet Zone, the American official
said The decision was made be-
cause of the persistence of the
Russian blockade of Berlin, he said
The exact tonnage affected by the
rail block is not known.
Before April /, when the Russians
began placing distractions on traffic,
there were about 60 trains month