Evening star., 1950-06-08
4 Russian Diplomats
Appointed 10 Replace
Rulers in East Reich
BY the Assoeieied Press

BY the Assoeiaied Press
BERLIN, June S-Russia today
named four Soviet diplomats to
replace her military rulers in East
Germany. Western Allied Of
ficials said this is another Soviet
step. toward a separate peace with
East Germany.
These officials predicted that in
addition Gen. v. I. Chuikov will
be replaced by a career diplomat
as chief of the Soviet Control
Commission. He was formerly
head of the Soviet military ad-
ministration in Germany, which
was replaced by the control COM
mission when the Russians set up
the East Zone republic.
The informants said the sep
arate peace will be proclaimed
shortly after the first East Ger
man election October IS. This
election is certain to confirm the
present Communist LED provisional
government. Only single list of
Communist-approved candidates
will be on the ballot.
Territory Claims Renounced.
One Of the biggest apparent OBJ
stacles to a separate peace was
cleared away two nights ago when
Communist Deputy Premier Wal
ter Ulbricht signed remuneration
of Germany'S claims to Eastern
territories occupied by Poland
since the war.
Reaction in Western Germany
was violently opposed. The nam
ing of civilian rulers was seen as
an attempt to bolster the prestige
of the Communist-run Soviet zone
state, and perhaps counter the
bitter feelings over loss Of Ger
man territory in the East.
The changes accelerated the
switch from military to civilian
control in the Russian zone and
were accompanied by indications
that new responsibilities were be-
Ing delegated to the areas Com
munist-controlled German gov
ernment.
Allied observers believed, how
ever, that the changes did not
mean Moscow was loosening its
grip on East Germany. but rather
was pulling the Kremlin-created
state closer toward early partner
ship as a ll-fledged satellite in
the Soviet bloc.
Gen. Kotikov Recalled.
The best known of the four
military men recalled to Moscow
was Maj. Gen. Alexander G. Koti-
kov. 58-year-old former Red COM
mandant of Berlin and representa-
tive of the Soviet Control Com
mission in Berlin since the estab-
lishment of the East German gov
eminent last November.
1T was Gen. Kotikov's frequent
use of the veto power which
wrecked co-ordinated four power
rule of the city. He was replaced
by Sergei Alexeivitch Dengin.
Evidencing his governments new
powers, East German Premier Otto
Grotewohl announced today that
his cabinet planned direct and ex-,
tensive political-economic negotia-
tions with Soviet bloc nations, sim
liar to those just concluded with
Poland.
Grotewohl specifically mentioned
Hungary and Czechoslovakia. He
said also the negotiators who went
to Warsaw would be sent to nego-
tiate with the Chinese Communist
government.
Appointed by Foreign Office.
The Soviet-controlled press gave
no information about Dengin OF
the three other new officials. The
Red Army newspaper here, how
ever, pointedly called each Mis-
ter" indicating they were Foreign
Ministry appointees rather than
military men.
Recalled with Gen. Kotikov were
Maj. Gen. w. M. Scharov, chief
representative of the Soviet Con-
troll Commission in the state of
Brandenburg; 1t. Gen. D. P. Du-
brovski from Saxony and Maj.
Gen. I. S. Kolesnitschenko from