Evening star., 1949-02-03

difficulty, a solution which got nine
of the II votes on the Security
Council but failed because of the
Soviet veto. This matter Is still
on the agenda of the Security
Council.
Recalls Shift In Blockade Excuse.
During all of this time the
reasons which were given by the
Soviet government were first Of all
that there were technical Difficult
ties which interrupted transport
Then the reason was given that the
blockade was necessary to protect
the economy of the Soviet zone
against the results of a monetary
reform in the Western zone.
Now it is true that the question
of the postponement of the Western
German government did arise in
the Moscow discussions, but it is
of even greater Importance, that
having arisen it was abandoned by
the Soviet Union as q condition to
lifting the blockade for the reasons
which are so fully set forth in the
United States white paper on that
subject.
Last summer when these discus
sions were going on the Western
German government had not been
formed. Its formation was not
imminent. In the months which
have passed 1t has still not been
formed, and yet during all of this
period the blockade has continued.
The preparatory work for the for
nation of this Western German
government has continued to 60
forward and is going forward as
necessary work for the accomplish
ment Of the responsibilities of the
three Western powers.
The three Western powers have
stressed, repeated again and again
to the Soviet Union, that their
agreements in regard to Western
Germany do not in any sense pre-
clude agreement on Germany as a
whole. In fact, they have pointed
out that this work facilitates agree
ment on Germany as whole and
they have, as have stated, stressed
again and again that what they
have in mind and what they are
doing is purely provisional pending
such agreement on Germany as a
whole. During all of these months
the three Western powers have tried
patiently and persistently to solve
the difficulties which have been put
forward by the Soviet government
as the reasons for the blockade.
Point Clarified ut Start.
AS to the second point in this
answer made by Premier Stain
that he would expect that II So
Wet restrictions we're lifted the
Western restrictions would be lifted
that point has been made clear
from the start. The Western gov
ernments have always stated that II
the Soviet government permits nor
NAL communications with and with
in Berlin their counter measures
will. of course, be lifted.
There are many ways in which a
serious proposal by the Soviet gov
ernment to restore normal inter-
zonal communications and COM
munications with and within Berlin
could be made. All channels are
open for any suggestions to that
end. The United States, together
with the other Western occupying
powers, would, of course, consider
carefully any proposal made to solve
the Berlin problem consistent with
their rights. their duties, their obli-
cations as occupying powers.
AS l say, all of the normal chan
nels are open. hope you will not
take it amiss If point out that if
on my part were seeking to give as
surance of seriousness of purpose I
would choose some other channel
than the channel of a press inter-
view.
May I end this statement as I
began it, by stating that the interest
of the United States and of all the
hundreds of millions of people
Throughout the world in peace is SO
fundamental that the matter Of
peace cannot be tampered with and
cannot be used as an instrument in
any international political maneu-
yer. 1t will not be so used by the
United States.