Evening star., 1961-09-25
BERLIN

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Continued From First Page
mans have some authority over
access to Berlin.
West Berliners generally in
terpreted Gen. Clay's off-the-
record remarks as removing all
hope for the Identification of
Germany in the foreseeable fu-
ture, prompting Mayor Willy
Brandt Of West Berlin to COM
ment bitterly:
I'VE have lost some hopes but
also some Illusions"
Dramatic Switch Seen
BY Illusions the mayor meant
the ability Of many West Ber-
liners to convince themselves
that the concrete curtain
thrown across the divided city
by the Communists August 13
was merely a temporary incon-
venience.
British newspapers predicted
a dramatic switch in United
States policy toward Germany
is shaping up despite the denials
by Gen. Clay and Washington.
The Daily Mail described
Gen. Clay's off-the-record re-
marks as a Calculated indis-
cretion." The papers Washing
ton correspondent, Bruce Roth
well, reported President Ken
nedy is about ready to grant
de facto recognition to East
Germany.
Mr.. Rothwell said Mr.. Ken
nedy is also believed prepared.
to recognize the Oder-Neisse
line as East Germany's from
tier, accept East German check
ing on access routes to West
Berlin and possibly agree to
limit nuclear weapons in Gen.
tral Europe.
The Daily Express, under the
headline lice is thawing," said
a deal on Berlin between the
United States and the Soviet
Union looks increasingly likely.
The Express speculated on
why Gen. Clay had not made
his statement openly and asked:
rs it because he is anxious not
to offend the West German
politicians or make it more diff
ficult for chancellor Konrad) |
Adnauer to form a coalition
wit hthe strongly nationalist
Free Democrats?" the paper de-
clared "the domestic situation
in Germany must not be al
lowed to influence western
policy"
Concessions Predicted
The Laborite Herald's New
York correspondent reported
Kennedy plans Berlin big
SWITCH" and suggested Wash
ington is about to make con-
cessions to Moscow to ease the
tension over Berlin.
Meanwhile, the East Ger
mans frightened their dividing
line in Berlin by completing the
evacuation of more than 1000
persons from apartment houses
lining the border. These houses
have provided escape routes to
the West.
The flight of refugees con-
tinued, however. Twenty East
Berliners succeeded in crossing
the border yesterday.
While Communist police were
clearing out houses along the
wall several persons made get
aways by jumping from win
dowS. One was a 77-year-old
woman.
In suburban Reinickendorf,
five persons - two men, two
women and a child-escaped by
digging a tunnel through the
wall of a stable on the border.
Five Ministers Away
About 10000 West Berliners
turned out last night to watch
dignitaries arrive for the open
ing of the new modernistic
opera house.
Mr.. Luebke represented the
Bonn government but five West
German cabinet ministers who
were expected changed their
at the last minute and
did not show up.
West Berlin newspapers sug-
gested the ministers stayed
home because the Communists
charged their planned visit was
an abuse of the air corridors
to this isolated city. Mr.. Luebke
was flown to Berlin in a United
States military plane.
Mr.. Brandt criticized the
others for staying home. He
said Berlin needs all the sup
port it can get right now.
Gen. Clay was invited to the
dedication too, but he did not
among the 1000 guests.
The opening featured Mozart's
Don Giovanni under the direc-
ton of Carl Ebert. One of the
main parts-Don Ottavio-Was
sung by an American tenor,
Donald Grobe of Ottawa, III.