Salt Lake Telegram | 1948-09-03 | Page 2 | Commies Try to Seize Berlin Power

jr Commies Try To Seize Berlin Power BERLIN Sept 3 UP Com UP-Com- Com Communists m moved openly to seize eize the Berlin city g government Friday as the Big Four military governors continued conferences to settle ettle the east west currency dispute and agree on lifting the Soviet surface blockade of the German capital Friday evening two meetings of political importance were taking place In the city One was seekIng seeking seeking seek seek- ing with tithe bounds or agreements agreements agreements agree agree- ments reached at the Moscow conferences conferences conferences con con- a settlement in the cold war between the Russians and the western allies Ues The other appeared designed to cause new confusion contusion and ill feeling The first was was' at the allied control control con con- authority building where the four m mil military I I I f t 1 a r y governors were working fast and reportedly making good progress progress progress-on on plans to establish the Soviet eastern mark as Berlins Berlin's only currency and arid lift the day 76 blockade The other was at the tho Berlin BerHn city hall ball in the Sovet sector where Communist members and sympathizers sympathizers among the city assembly met and formed what they called the democratic bloc of Berlin They apparently sought to usurp the functions of at the elected city assembly which Is predominantly non nonCommunist C Com Communist 0 m m u n t I s a t demonstrations twice have broken up scheduled city assembly meetings and the assembly called off oft another attempt attempt attempt at at- tempt to meet Friday because Maj Gen Alexander Soviet commandant in Berlin re refused refused refused re- re fused to guarantee police tion The Communist rump meetIng meeting meeting meet meet- ing was held instead in the usual assembly room and the Communists Communists Communists acted on matters which legally legal legal- ly fall tall within the province of the assembly It was announced that the Communist Communist Communist Com Com- group will meet each two weeks as the elected assembly is supposed to do