Evening star., 1948-09-26
Tuss' Statement
Gives Essence OF
Reply to Notes
v1sHINsKY PROPOSES one-third
cut in all arms. ban on A-bomb.
Page AS
By the Assoeioied Press

LONDON, Sunday, Sept. %
Russia demanded today control
of all traffic-land, air and wa
ter-betWeen Berlin and West
err. Germany and said the deci-
sion was up to the Western
powers whether an agreement
can be attained on the Berlin
blockade or the talks broken of.
The official news agency Tass, In
an authorized" statement OF the
Soviet governments position in the
Kremlin talks involving Prime Min
lister Stain and the Berlin confer
ences among the four military gov
ernors of Germany, disclosed that:
|. Russia insists on control OF air
transport between Berlin and the
Western zones Of Germany, as well
as control over highway, barge and
rail routes.
2. Russia demands that an agree
ment attained in Moscow in August
on a four power financial committee
for regulating single Russian-con-
trolled currency be held to exactly
and its functions not broadened INTO
the Soviet zone.
3. Russia is agreeable to four
power control over trade OF Berlln
with the Western zones and third
countries, with appropriate IL
censes."
Accord Put Up To Allies.
Stressing the Russian viewpoint
on the three basic differences IN
the negotiations in Moscow and
Berlin over the blockade, the lass
statement said:
In these conditions it depends on
the governments Of the United
States, Britain and France whether
the negotiations on the above SUBJ
jects will be disrupted or whether
satisfactory agreement will be
reached by the U. s. s. H., tne
United States, Britain and France.
The Western powers asked Russia
In a note earlier last week whether
a basis for continuing the negotla-
tions on Berlin could be found. Rus
sia replied to the notes yesterday.
The Tass statement apparently was
the Russian Interpretation OF the
reply, so far not officially mace
public.
The Soviet statement disclosed
that Western power diplomats and
Russian government heads attained
in Moscow last month four power
agreement to remove transport re-
strictions and at the same time to
introduce Soviet zone currency
throughout Berlin on the condition
that an agreement be reached IN
Berlin by the four military COVER
nors Oh practical means of reallzlng
the measures.
Three Questions Raised.
Tass said the talks between the
four governors in Germany were
not completed because the Western
powers decided to bring several dis
agreements between the generals to
Moscow for discussion.
Those disagreements concerned
the three questions mentioned in
the Russian declaration-on control
of transport, currency and trade OF
Berlin.
Tass indicated the issue of regu-
lating Berlin trade had been settled
and only the control of air transport
into Berlin from Western Germany
and the functions of the Berlin
financial committee remain to be
settled.
The Tass statement said the
Soviet declaration was issued in
view of the fact that communlca-
tionS on the four power talks are
appearing in American. British and
French newspapers. Tass asserted
also that statements of Western
power officials. including British
Foreign Secretary Bevin in the
House of Commons September %
"do not give the correct picture Of
the situation in Berlin and of tn
aforesaid talks. and frequently de-
ceive public opinion
The Russians contended the
United States. Britain and France
had violated the Potsdam decisions
by introducing a reformed currency
into Western Berlin.
This, the TasS statement said,
forced Russia to blockade Berlin
in late June ''to safeguard the in
terests of the German population
and protect the economic life Of
the Soviet zone" The Russians
contended the Western powers were