Evening star., 1954-01-10
{ THE SUNDAY STAR
Big -Four Again Fail
To Choose Site for
Berlin Conference
washington, d. G.
SUNDAY, JANUARY 10, 1854
BY the Associated Press


BERLIN, Jan. 9.-Representa-
tives of the United States, Brit
ain and France conferred with
the Russians again today in a
get-together which exuded cor
diality but produced no agree
ment on a site for the Berlin
conference of the Big -Four for
eign ministers.
A terse, four-power commune
que on the second attempt in
three days to choose a building
for the conference merely said
the representatives had con-
ferred at Soviet headquarters in
KarlshorSt and that they would
have another try Monday.
Today's meeting took place in
an atmosphere of Soviet cordial
ity such as had not been seen
here in years. It boosted hopes
that a compromise might be
reached on the site dispute,
which threatens to hold up the
scheduled January Is opening of
the parley. An informed West
ern source said there is "a good
chance" for a compromise.
Greeted by Honor Guard.
The entrance to the big barbed
wire compound in Karlshorst
was manned by smartly uni
formed Red Army honor guards,
who gave a sharp rife salute as
the American. British and
French commandantS and their
deputies arrived.
The host was Sergei Dengin,
Berlin chief of the Soviet High
Commission. He provided escort
cars to the headquarters building
for the allied commandants.
But after haggling for eight
hours, the representatives gave
up for the week end. Before the
Westerners left, the Russians
served them tea.
The Western allies, at the
first preliminary session in Brit
ish headquarters Thursday, pro-
posed the former Allied Control
Authority (ACA) Building in the
American sector as the site for
the conference.
Urge Red Sector.
The Russians refused and were
understood to have countered
with a site which would make
them hosts for prestige and
propaganda purposes in their
own sector.
The allies maintain that the
500-room AGA Building-long
vacant but still under four
power controls the only truly
neutral spot in this divided city.
The communiQue said the
meeting continued discussion of
a building for the meeting of
foreign ministers and of techni-
cal arrangements for that meet
ing. The next meeting of the
representatives will be held Jan
uary II at the headquarters of
the United States Commandant
In Berlin
The West was represented at
today's session by United States
Maj. Gen. Thomas S. Timber
man, British Maj. Gen. C. F. c.
Coleman and French Brig. Gen.
Pierre Manceaux-Demiau.
Also in the United States dele
cation was Henry Parkman, Bos-
ton attorney who arrived this
week to take over as Assistant
United States High Commits
sioner IN charge of Berlin affairs.
German and Austrian ques-
tions are slated to get the spot
light in the Big Four conference.
Raises NaZi Issue.
In Bonn, Chancellor Konrad
Adenauer asked the Western
powers in a letter to their High
Commissioners today to discuss
with the Russians the future of
Nazi Deputy Fuehrer Rudolf
Hess and six other high Nazis
held in Spandau prison.
The seven have been held in
Spandau since 1946 when they
were convicted at Nuremberg of
war crimes. In addition to Hess,
they are Walter Funk, former
Reichsbank president who is
serving life; former Admiral
Erich Raeder, also serving life
imprisonment; Baldur Won Schi-
rach, Hitler Yoe.th leader and
Albert Speer, munitions chief, 20
years; Konstantin Won Neurath,
former Foreign Minister, Is
years; and former Admiral Karl
DoenitZ, 10 years.
Western authorities said DR..
Adenauer's letter did not make
plain whether he hoped the Big
Four powers would agree to re-
lease the Spandau prisoners who
are in bad health or would agree