Salt Lake Telegram | 1948-12-01 | Page 1 | German Crisis Fanned by Soviet Move

German Crisis V Fanned by Y Soviet Move f v WASHINGTON Dec 1 UP RI-Al RI top state department official said Wednesday that Russia's forma formation formation tion of a separate government in eastern Berlin makes an west east solution of the Berlin crisis more difficult if not impossible This official would not allow direct quotation However of State Lovett told a news conference meanwhile that if the Soviets feel that this action on their part alters our determination not to be driven out of Berlin by force they are mistaken That was the only comment which Lovett would make directly direct direct- ly on the Be Berlin situation While it is not permitted to identify the official who said a aBerlin aBerlin aBerlin Berlin solution has become more difficult If not impossible it can be said that his views represent the considered judgment of the state department This official declared that the significance of the Soviet move move can be summed up in four points 1 The abrupt Introduction of the new government over the Russian Russian Russian Rus Rus- sian sector of Berlin shows the German people what they could expect if the United S States tes anthe anc an and the other- other western powers withdrew with with- drew their occupying forces 2 Creation of the government followed the familiar pattern of Intimidation as It had been de developed developed developed de- de in the Soviet dominated areas of eastern Europe 3 The timing of the move in relation to efforts of the United Nations to solve the Berlin crisis can hardly be accidental and the effect is to make a solution infinitely infinitely infinitely more difficult if not 4 sible 4 The Tho Russians may feel teel as Lovett suggested in his comment that the western powers may now be less determined to stay in Berline Ber Ber- line lin If so they are mistaken The Tho state department regards the move a as as aan an effort to split the city east and west vest and about the thelast thelast last action needed to break of off th the power four-power control established jointly by Russia America Britain and France at the end of the war var