Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1949-04-18
Russia Reported
Seeking Way TO
Lift Blockade
Efforts Are Believed
Aimed at Saving Foce
In Berlin Situation

ey the Asseeiaisd Press
BERLIN. April 18.-There were
indications today that the Rus
slams are seeking diplomatic way
to lift the blockade of Berlin and
still save face"
For several weeks there have
been reports of new Soviet efforts
to find a way out of what has be-
come a boomeraIiging situation.
The Allied counter-blockade has
deprived the Soviet occupation
zone Of Germany and many of the
Soviet satellite countries Of ma
terials necessary to their economic
well-being.
There were reports from author
itative sources in Germany yes
terday that Germans of the East
ern zones are pressuring the Rus
slams to lift the blockade.
Insist on Lifting of Blockade.
Die Welt. official British Army
newspaper at Hamburg, said the
Germans of the Russian zone want
to resume trade with Western
Germany.
Die Welt said Vladimir Deka-
nosov, Russian ambassador to
Hitler Germany. has been in Ber-
lin for several days to advise the
Soviet military administration on
these proposals about resuming
inter-zonal trade and traffic.
which have now reached a de-
cisive stage"
The story was supported in part
by Lawrence Wilkinson, economics
adviser to Gen. Lucius D. Clay,
American military governor. He
said the Communists dominated
German economic commission of
the Eastern zone had sent infor-
NAL communications to German
officials In Frankfurt asking a
common effort to get trade started
again between Eastern and West
ern Germany.
Mr.. Wilkinson said the Ameri-
can answer was nothing doing.
No trade until the blockade Of
Berlin is fully lifted"
Pleas to Resume Trade.
Die Welt said the American
answer caused the Germans in
the Russian zone to plead with
the Soviet military administra-
ton to get rail transport and
trade going with the Western
zones as soon as possible.
The newspaper said the Ger
man economic commission told
the Russians their two-year eco
nomic plan is doomed to failure
unless Western products can be
obtained.
The British licensed German
press service said the German
railway directorate of the Russian
zone also was pleading for free
inter-zonal transport to save the
railroads from bankruptcy.
Several London newspapers,
meanwhile. printed Berlin dis
patches saying a special Soviet
envoy is en- route to Washington
with a new proposal to solve the
blockade issue.
Plans for Neutral City Reported.
The Daily Mail said the plan
called for turning the city over
completely to the United Ma
tions" as a neutral city. Two
other London newspapers carried
similar dispatches, but differed
somewhat in detail.
The envoy was identified as
Gen. Georgiev Malinin, described
as a former Soviet deputy chief
of staff in Germany and one-time
senior member of the Soviet mill
tary administration.
Official sources in Berlin, how
ever. described the stories as
speculative nonsense. Both
American and British military
government officials discounted
the report.
A highly placed diplomatic in
formant in London last week re-
ported the Russians had made an
informal offer through the Polish
mission in. Berlin to lift the
blockade if the Western powers
would open four-power negotia-
tons on all outstanding German
problems.
That report was promptly de-
MED by the Polish representatives
and by Gen. Clay.