Evening star., 1949-04-19
Berlin and Russio's 'Foce'

The latest figures on the Berlin airlift
lend strength to persistent runors that the
Russians are anxiously seeking some way
to end their blockade of the city without
losing too much face"
AS originally conceived by the Kremlin's
cold-war strategists, the blockade, by cut
ting of all lines of supply via land and
water, was designed to force the western
Allies to get out of Berlin and let the
Red Army take over the whole Of it. The
reasoning behind this was simple enough:
With no food or fuel coming in, more than
1000 900 Germans in the Anglo-French-
American sectors would be faced with
starvation and economic chaos, and
would therefore find themselves In such
an untenable position that they would have
to withdraw.
What the Kremlin failed to reckon with,
however, was the ability of American air
power, together with substantial British
help. to fly in the essentials needed to
sustain life in the blockaded sectors. The
be exaggerated. Thus, on Easter, almost
three hundred days after the beginning of
Operation Vittles," the airlift planes, in
1893 separate flights, delivered a total
of more than $4,000 tons of supplies to
the city-a spectacular new 24-hour record
exceeding the biggest daily deliveries made
by railroad trains before the blockade went
into effect last June.
The feat speaks for itself. 1t is further
dramatic confirmation of asfact that has
been clear for some months past-namely,
that the blockade has failed colossally.
Psychologically, politically and econom-
ically, 1t has been a two-edged sword that
has hurt Russia far more than 1t has hurt
the West. Certainly, there can be no
doubt that 1t has deepened the anti-Red
feeling in Germany and elsewhere, while
at the same time greatly enhancing the
prestige of the Western Allies. Beyond
that, since It. has been answered by an
effective counterblockade 1t has created
real difficulties for the economy of the
Soviet occupation zone as whole-a situ-
alton that must create considerable dis
comfiture in the Kremlin.
Accordingly, there seems good reason to
assume that there Is much truth in the
rumors about Russian efforts to find face
saving formula for lifting the blockade.
OF course, in view of the past Soviet record
on this issue-a record of bad faith and
of deliberate sabotage of the United
Nations attempt to work out fair solution
the West must be wary of any new olive
branches. Yet, If the Kremlin Is sincerely
looking for a way out of the present situa-
tion, France, Britain and the United States,
while making very sure that there are no
propaganda tricks involved, should do
whatever they can to bring about settle
ment, If settlement is possible.
At any rate, it is self-evident that the
sooner the blockade Is ended, the better
of everybody will be. Wholly apart from
the fact that the airlift is costing the
United States about $500,000 day, a peace
full solution, restoring normal traffic to
and from Berlin, would do away with one
OF the most deadly points of friction in the
cold war-an extremely tense situation in
which some blunder, some rash act, some
untoward incident could lead to an explo-
sion of the gravest sort.
In face of such a peril, none of the
major powers involved can afford to be
stiffnecked. II an honorable and effective
compromise can be worked out, 1t ought to
be worked out without delay. With 1t, the
world could hope for progress toward
genuine peace. Without 1t, the outlook
must continue bleakly dangerous for all.