Evening star., 1955-04-01
Reds Start Tax
On West Berlin
Truck Traffic
Toll Up to $56 Per
Round Trip Seen as
Economic Blockade

Economic Blockade
BERLIN. April / R. - COM
munist East Germany put an
eight million dollar a year tax
raise into effect today on truck
traffic between Red-encircled
West Berlin and. West Germany.
A rush of truckers trying to
make the 110-mile run through
the Soviet zone before the mid
night deadline piled up for miles
at either end of the road last
night. Nine hours later police
reported traffic was flowing
smoothly.
The new levies boost taxes as
high as 220 marks t$56.36) for
a round-trip truck haul between
Berlin and West Germany. The
East German Communists said
the money Is needed to keep the
highway in repair.
Allied vehicles, both military
and civilian, are exempt from
taxes in Germany and thus were
not affected by the East German
move.
West Berlin officials called it
an economic blockade in retalia-
ton for West German ratifica-
ton Of the Paris pacts on Ger
man rearmament.
Ready for Discussion
The East German Communists
indicated today, however. they
were ready to discuss the tax
question with Bonn officials.
Should the West German
government intend to talk with
the East German government on
problems Of traffic or interzonal
trade" I" said the East Zone Com
munist Party newspaper Neues
Deutschland. I'VE must say our
government has by no means re-
jected negotiations with the
West German government"
United States officials In
Washington said last night that
the Western allies would not be
blackmailed into accepting stiff
highway taxes on German truck
ers who supply isolated Berlin.
A State Department announce
ment said allied Representatives
were talking over what measures
may prove necessary to assure the
fiow Of goods to and from the
city of Berlin
Subsidies Advanced
West Berlin authorities ad-
vanceGsl million marks ($250,-
OQ05 n subsidies to help, the
truckers meet the new taxes.
United States State Department
officers said the subsidies are
simply a palliative until a deci-
sion is reached on what to do"
Trucks carry about half the
total flow of traffic in and out of
Berlin. including 40 per cent Of
the goods shipped to the city and
70 per cent Of the items sent
from it. They are vital in sup
plying food and perishable prod
ucts to the city.
Police in West Berlin said
about ITO westbound trucks and
$50 passenger cars passed the
checkpoint into the Soviet zone
within nine hours after the new
taxes went into effect at one
minute past midnight.
At the other end of the high
way in West Germany. about 95
trucks for Berlin went through
the Helmstedt border crossing In
the same period. About 200
trucks normally pass this way on
an ordinary 24-hour day.
West Warns Russians
The three Western high COM
missioners told the Russians
today that the heavy tax in
creases were politically in
spired." !" In similar letters to So
Wet High Commissioner G.. M.
Pushkin they said the taxes are
$50 exorbitant that they can
not be justified purely on eco
1omic grounds"
They, warned the Russians
that such interference with free
movement Of traffic in and out
of Berlin conflicted with the
1949 agreement that ended the
Red blockade Of the city. They
demanded that the Soviet au-
thorities order taxes cut without
S3elay