Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1949-05-28
Top Big 4Action
To Settle Strike
Seen in Berlin
Situation Believed
Developing Beyond
LocuI Authorities
BY the Assoeioted Press

BY the Assoeiofed Press
BERLIN. May 2s.-American
spokesman said today that Berlin's
paralyzing railway strike, which
has become involved in the cold
war, may have to be settled at
higher government levels by the
four powers.
IF there is no settlement in the
next few days. 1t may have to go
I'D to the government level" said
James w. Riddleberger, the State
Departments chief adviser in
Germany. THE Paris conference
can, of course, step in any time
and take action"
He added that another try" for
a settlement is being made here.
c. A. Dix, American transport
expert, said so many questions OF
high policy have crept into. the
picture that neither the Russian
nor Western officials here can take
a positive stand. The Russians
especially bump up against their
higher policy all the time" Mr.
Dix asserted.
Blockade filters Felt.
The people of Berlin, pinched
by the week-old strike and recog-
nizing It's place in cold war nlaaeu-
yering. are getting blockage filters.
Called by West Berlin anti-Com-
munist railway workers against
their Russian bosses. the strike has
been described by the Western
Allies as justified.
Today, however, Brig. Gen. Frank
s. Howley, American commander
in the American sector OF Berlin,
charged that cts quite clear the
Communists wanted this situation
to develop. They engineered 1t
that way" He asserted they hoped
1t would help Russian negotiators
in the Big Four meetings at Paris
which seek to settle the entire
German problem.
The Russians have commended
that the Western powers are back
ing the strikers. with the same
idea.
Narrower Corridor Asked.
The Russians came up with a
new angle last night, warning the
Western Allies to narrow one OF
their airlift corridors TO Berlin be-
cause Soviet gunners would start
battle-ground target practice to-
day in that area.
American and British authori-
ties said they would not change
the corridors, because it would
hamper the lift which the strike
has made the chief supply line to
this beleaguered city.
c. P. Zorchenko, chief Russian
air controller at the Berlin Air
Safety Center, said Russia would
not be responsible for Allied planes
entering danger areas" in the
so-called Buckeberg corridor link
ing the British zone with Berlin.
Plane-to-plane target practice
by the Russians has been a con-
slant annoyance to airlift planes
for months.
Yesterday, the 336th day Of the
airlift. British and American
planes few 1880 tons Of supplies
to Berlin. United States Air Force
officers said more than 100000
tons have been delivered by air
since the lift started.
Railyards Stagnant. :.
Berlin's railyards remained stag
nant and the pinch Of the rail
strike Is being felt acutely. The
morale of Berlin people is lower
than in the midst of the Russian
blockade. They had hoped for
better times when the blockade
barriers were flung aside May IL.
There was an improvement in
their supply position from then
until the strike hit.
They know that the Russians
easily could crack down on the
movement Of cargoes over high
ways and waterways. They see
the economy of the city frail and
limping. The jobless in the Al
lied sectors exceed 100. 000-about
10 per cent Of the working popu-
lation.
Berlin people feel their city is a
pawn in the East-West cold war.
and they don't see much sign that
the Big Four meetings in Paris
are making much Roadway toward
settlement.
Negotiations Deadlocked.
Negotiations to end the strike
are deadlocked. The Soviet-con-
trolled railway management
stands pat on its latest offer to
compromise with the strikers.
Willy Kreikemeyer. president OF
the Soviet-controlled Reichsbahn
(railway SYSTEM said there Will
be no new proposals made" beyond
his offer to pay the $4,000 West
Berlin railway workers go per cent
of their wages in West marks.
Strike leaders have rejected the
offer. They demand full payment
In West marks. worth four times
as much as the Soviet zone cur
rency In which they have been
paid.
There has been a series Of little
duels Of wits between strikers and
the railway management. An in
stance:
Soviet zone workers under Rus
sian officers worked for three hours
yesterday to open q. blocked switch
and get fires going under boilers
of three locomotives in a railway
yard. They moved the locomotives,
only to find that the tracks had
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