Evening star., 1949-05-05
Big Four Formally Announce End
Of Blockade Confirming May II
AS Date for Lifting Restrictions
Harmony Display
Given After Year
OF Acute 7 Tension
BY Gornett D. Homer

Va AlkGSA 6SA CCAA3CAAt w S&AN oA1s
Berlin blockade May IL and tc
convene the Council OF Foreign
Ministers In Paris May % to con-
slider the whole range Of German
problems was announced today by
the United States. Russia, Great
Britain and France.
The four-power accord marked
the most definite break in the cold
war In many months. 1t was con-
sidered here clear-cut victory for
Western diplomacy and the airlift
which kept the Russian land
blockade Of Berlin from achieving
its purpose.
Simultaneous announcement of
the agreement was made at 8 am
today in Washington, Moscow,
London and Paris-as well as in
New York, where the accord was
worked out in more than two
months of secret negotiations at
the headquarters of the United
Nations.
Text of Communique.
The joint communique said:
1.-THE governments of France,
the Union Of Soviet Socialist Re-
publics. the United Kingdom and
the United States have reached
the following agreement:
81. All the restrictions imposed
since March l. 1948. by the gov
ernment of the Union Of Soviet
Socialist Republics on communi-
cations, transportation and trade
between Berlin and the Western
zones of Germany and between
the Eastern zone and the Western
zones will be removed on May IL,
l949.
"2. ALI the restrictions imposed
since March /. 1948. by the gov
ernments of France, the United
Kingdom ami, the United States.
or any one v them. on communi-
cations, trt i'ortation and trade
between Berlin and the Eastern
gone and between the Western
and Eastern zones of Germany
also will be removed o. May IL.
1949.
"3. Eleven days subsequent to
the removal of the restrictions re-
ferred to in paragraphs one and
two; namely, on May 23, 1949, q
meeting Of the Council Of Foreign
Ministers will be convened in Paris
to consider questions relating to
Germany. and problems arising
out of the situation In Berlin, in
cluding also the question of cur
rency in Berlin.
Display of Harmony.
The document was an extraor-
binary display of harmony be-
tween Russia and the Western
powers after more than a year of
tension and conflict over Berlin
sometimes marked by fears of
actual war.
Offlcials here considered it high
ly significant that Russia finally
was willing to agree to lift her
blockade on terms that met the
position set out months ago by
the West. The change in Rus
sian tactics came only after the
Western powers had proved they
could supply Berlin by air through
bad winter weather and had dem
onstrated their determination to
resist jointly any aggression by
signing the North Atlantic Treaty.
There was considerable caution
about prospects of agreement at
the Paris conference on other
German problems. however. The
Western powers are going ahead
with plans for establishing a sep
arate government in Western Ger
many, but are willing to consider
any fair settlement for unifying
all Germany.
Talks Began February Is.
The Berlin agreement was
worked out in talks that began
casually and informally between
DR.. Philip c. Jessup, Amerncan
Ambassador at large. and Soviet
Deputy Foreign Minister Jacob A.
Malik at the u. N. In New York on
February Is.
Today's communique was fore
shadowed by announcement yes
terday that agreement for lifting
the blockade had been reached,
(NAxaki...aAA tel \