Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1955-12-06
British 10 Insist
Russians Keep
Barges Moving

|acceded to the Soviet decision
to turn over administrative con-
troll of Berlin's vital canal lifeline
to the East Germans, but they
still hold the Russians reSpon-
sible for the continued flow Of
traffic.
A Foreign Office spokesman in
London disclosed that the Brit
ish and Russians had agreed re-
Gently to waive their respective
signatures on permits for barges
which play the two big canals
between Berlin and West Ger
many.
In Bonn and in Berlin British
Embassy officials added that this
was an administrative change
whereby the canal traffic would
be handled by the West German
Hamburg and East German Mag
|deburg offices.
I'VE still hold the Russians
fully responsible for insuring
free movement of barges to and
from Berlin in accordance with
the l949 Paris four-power agree
Iment," a British spokesman said,
American and French head
Quarters here withheld imme-
diate comment on the stand
taken by the British Foreign Of
fee in the mounting East Ger
man drive TO win recognition Of
Its sovereignty"
The West German federal
government took a grave view
lof the situation in which one
third of isolated West Berlin'S
supplies could be subject to
Communist whim.
Bonn Studies Action
Chancellor Konrad Adenauer's
ministers for foreign affairs.
Itraffic. economics and German
Identification viii hold an emer-
|gency meeting ID Bonn tomor-
row to deal with the Eastern de-
mand that barge trafiic prob
lens be negotiated between the
two governments. The demand
was contained in q letter sent
10 days ago.
Meanwhile the East German
c o m m unist organ. Neues
Deutschland. accused the West
ern powers of breaking all four
power agreements on Berlin. The
charge was part of the Reds
campaign to justify their claim
that four-power rule in the di-
vided city is ended.
The Western powers them.
selves have trod all agreements
on Berlin into the dirt" Neues
Deutschland declared. saying the
first step came in June. 1913
with the introduction over Soviet
protests Of currency reform ir
West Germany and West Berlin
| This, said the paper. led to the
political and economic splitting
of Berlin, and ruined the unified
administration Of the city"
| Fears that the Communist!
might try to clamp another
stranglehold on West Berlir
similar to the l948-49 blockade
were raised last week with thu
Russian and East German asser.
Itions that East Berlin is nov
sovereign" territory ruled By
East Germany.
Neues Deutschland said that ir
addition to the currency reform
the Allies broke four power ruiz
by:
!. Turning West Berlin into 9
spy center used to sabotage thu
East German economy.
2. "Hindering" the dissolution
of cartels, thus violating the 1874:
Potsdam agreement.
| 3. Signing up West Germany
in a Western military alliance
tNATO) and applying it to West
Berlin.
4. Converting West Berlin intc
a gathering place for criminal.
and smugglers.
! East Brings Pressure
Since the Russians and Eas1
German declarations on SOW.
ereignty were made, the East
Germans have swung theil
weight around by insisting
that barge traffic to West
Germany is now supervised
by them and not the Russians.
The East Germans also arr
claiming the power, beginning
January l. to force West German
motorists and truckers to take
out insurance from East German
firms before travelling on the Ito.
mile express highway which link.
isolated West Berlin with West
Germany.