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THE BERLIN CRISIS:
Report on the Moscow Discussions, 1948
57
tions under the Charter of the United Nations, to refer the matter to
4. In connection with the lifting of restrictions and the maintenance
the Security Council."
of freedom of communication and the transport of persons and goods
On the same day, September 26, the following note was delivered by
between Berlin and the Western zones, the agreed directive provided
the Acting Secretary of State in Washington to the Soviet
that restrictions recently imposed should be lifted. Generalissimo
Ambassador:
Stalin during the discussions personally confirmed that this meant
the removal also of any restrictions imposed prior to June 18, 1948.
His Excellency ALEXANDER S. PANYUSHKIN,
In connection with the currency situation in Berlin, the Soviet au-
Ambassador of the Union of Soviet Socialist Republics
thorities insisted that the German mark of the Soviet zone be accepted
The Acting Secretary of State presents his compliments to His
as the sole currency for Berlin. The three Western occupying powers
Excellency, the Ambassador of the Union of Soviet Socialist Re-
declared that they were ready to withdraw from circulation in Berlin
publics, and has the honor to transmit the following communication :
the Western mark "B" issued in that city and to accept the German
1. The Governments of the United States, France and the United
mark of the Soviet zone subject to Four-Power control over its issu-
Kingdom, conscious of their obligations under the Charter of the
ance, circulation and continued use in Berlin (i. e. in Berlin only and
United Nations to settle disputes by peaceful means, took the initiative
not in the Soviet zone). After long discussions Generalissimo Stalin,
on July 30, 1948 in approaching the Soviet Government for informal
on August 23, 1948, personally agreed to this Four-Power control and
discussions in Moscow in order to explore every possibility of adjust-
himself proposed the establishment of a Four-Power Financial Com-
ing a dangerous situation which had arisen by reason of measures
mission which would control the practical implementation of the finan-
taken by the Soviet Government directly challenging the rights of
cial arrangements involved in the introduction and continued circula-
the other occupying powers in Berlin. These measures, persistently
tion of a single currency in Berlin and which, Generalissimo Stalin
pursued, amounted to a blockade of land and water transport and
specifically stated, would have the power to control the German Bank
communication between the Western zones of Germany and Berlin
of Emission of the Soviet zone insofar as its operations with respect
which not only endangered the maintenance of the forces of occupa-
to Berlin were concerned.
tion of the United States, France and the United Kingdom in that
5. It was with these understandings, personally confirmed by Gen-
city but also jeopardized the discharge by those Governments of their
eralissimo Stalin, that the agreed directive was sent to the four Military
duties as occupying power's through the threat of starvation, disease
Governors in Berlin to work out the technical arrangements necessary
and economic ruin for the population of Berlin.
to put it into effect.
2. The Governments of the United States, France and the United
6. Despite these clear understandings, the Soviet Military Governor
Kingdom have explicitly maintained the position that they could
soon made it plain in the discussions held by the four Military Gover-
accept no arrangement which would deny or impair the rights in
nors that he was not prepared to abide by the agreed directive.
Berlin acquired by them through the defeat and unconditional sur-
Although the directive called for the unqualified lifting of the re-
render of Germany and by Four-Power agreements. They were,
strictions on transport and communications between the Western
however, willing to work out in good faith any practical arrangements,
zones and Berlin, the Soviet Military Governor failed to comply.
consistent with their rights and duties, for restoring to normal the
What is more he demanded that restrictions should be imposed on air
situation in Berlin, including the problems presented by the existence
traffic. He endeavored to support his demand by a false interpreta-
of two currencies in that city.
tion of a decision of the Control Council of November 30, 1945.
3. After long and patient discussion, agreement was arrived at in
Actually during the discussions leading up to the decision of the Con-
Moscow on a directive to the four Military Governors under which
trol Council of November, 1945, to establish air corridors the Soviet
the restrictive measures placed by the Soviet Military Government
military authorities in Berlin had suggested that the traffic in the
upon transport and communications between the Western zones and
corridors should be limited to the needs of the military forces.
Berlin would be lifted simultaneously with the introduction of the
Neither the Control Council, however, nor any other Four-Power
German mark of the Soviet zone as the sole currency for Berlin under
body accepted this proposal and the traffic in the corridors has since
Four-Power control of its issue and continued use in Berlin.
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"ocrText": "56\nTHE BERLIN CRISIS:\nReport on the Moscow Discussions, 1948\n57\ntions under the Charter of the United Nations, to refer the matter to\n4. In connection with the lifting of restrictions and the maintenance\nthe Security Council.\"\nof freedom of communication and the transport of persons and goods\nOn the same day, September 26, the following note was delivered by\nbetween Berlin and the Western zones, the agreed directive provided\nthe Acting Secretary of State in Washington to the Soviet\nthat restrictions recently imposed should be lifted. Generalissimo\nAmbassador:\nStalin during the discussions personally confirmed that this meant\nthe removal also of any restrictions imposed prior to June 18, 1948.\nHis Excellency ALEXANDER S. PANYUSHKIN,\nIn connection with the currency situation in Berlin, the Soviet au-\nAmbassador of the Union of Soviet Socialist Republics\nthorities insisted that the German mark of the Soviet zone be accepted\nThe Acting Secretary of State presents his compliments to His\nas the sole currency for Berlin. The three Western occupying powers\nExcellency, the Ambassador of the Union of Soviet Socialist Re-\ndeclared that they were ready to withdraw from circulation in Berlin\npublics, and has the honor to transmit the following communication :\nthe Western mark \"B\" issued in that city and to accept the German\n1. The Governments of the United States, France and the United\nmark of the Soviet zone subject to Four-Power control over its issu-\nKingdom, conscious of their obligations under the Charter of the\nance, circulation and continued use in Berlin (i. e. in Berlin only and\nUnited Nations to settle disputes by peaceful means, took the initiative\nnot in the Soviet zone). After long discussions Generalissimo Stalin,\non July 30, 1948 in approaching the Soviet Government for informal\non August 23, 1948, personally agreed to this Four-Power control and\ndiscussions in Moscow in order to explore every possibility of adjust-\nhimself proposed the establishment of a Four-Power Financial Com-\ning a dangerous situation which had arisen by reason of measures\nmission which would control the practical implementation of the finan-\ntaken by the Soviet Government directly challenging the rights of\ncial arrangements involved in the introduction and continued circula-\nthe other occupying powers in Berlin. These measures, persistently\ntion of a single currency in Berlin and which, Generalissimo Stalin\npursued, amounted to a blockade of land and water transport and\nspecifically stated, would have the power to control the German Bank\ncommunication between the Western zones of Germany and Berlin\nof Emission of the Soviet zone insofar as its operations with respect\nwhich not only endangered the maintenance of the forces of occupa-\nto Berlin were concerned.\ntion of the United States, France and the United Kingdom in that\n5. It was with these understandings, personally confirmed by Gen-\ncity but also jeopardized the discharge by those Governments of their\neralissimo Stalin, that the agreed directive was sent to the four Military\nduties as occupying power's through the threat of starvation, disease\nGovernors in Berlin to work out the technical arrangements necessary\nand economic ruin for the population of Berlin.\nto put it into effect.\n2. The Governments of the United States, France and the United\n6. Despite these clear understandings, the Soviet Military Governor\nKingdom have explicitly maintained the position that they could\nsoon made it plain in the discussions held by the four Military Gover-\naccept no arrangement which would deny or impair the rights in\nnors that he was not prepared to abide by the agreed directive.\nBerlin acquired by them through the defeat and unconditional sur-\nAlthough the directive called for the unqualified lifting of the re-\nrender of Germany and by Four-Power agreements. They were,\nstrictions on transport and communications between the Western\nhowever, willing to work out in good faith any practical arrangements,\nzones and Berlin, the Soviet Military Governor failed to comply.\nconsistent with their rights and duties, for restoring to normal the\nWhat is more he demanded that restrictions should be imposed on air\nsituation in Berlin, including the problems presented by the existence\ntraffic. He endeavored to support his demand by a false interpreta-\nof two currencies in that city.\ntion of a decision of the Control Council of November 30, 1945.\n3. After long and patient discussion, agreement was arrived at in\nActually during the discussions leading up to the decision of the Con-\nMoscow on a directive to the four Military Governors under which\ntrol Council of November, 1945, to establish air corridors the Soviet\nthe restrictive measures placed by the Soviet Military Government\nmilitary authorities in Berlin had suggested that the traffic in the\nupon transport and communications between the Western zones and\ncorridors should be limited to the needs of the military forces.\nBerlin would be lifted simultaneously with the introduction of the\nNeither the Control Council, however, nor any other Four-Power\nGerman mark of the Soviet zone as the sole currency for Berlin under\nbody accepted this proposal and the traffic in the corridors has since\nFour-Power control of its issue and continued use in Berlin."
}