462A. 62B31/9–2951: Telegram
The Director of the Berlin Element of HICOG ( Jones ) to the Office of the United States High Commissioner for Germany, at Frankfurt 1
592. Fol summarizes present situation re elimination by East authorities of various types harassment Berlin trade subsequent to signature IZT agreement.
1. Warenbegleitscheine.
No substantial improvement in Warenbegleitscheine matter since signing of IZT agreement. While no Warenbegleitscheine have been rejected since signature, backlog awaiting action has increased from 3203 on Sept 20 to 6040 on Sept 29. Hesse of West Berlin Senat met with Rue, Chief East Ger Transitstelle Sept 27 re question and obtained no satisfaction. Rue disclaimed any knowledge of new arrangements for handling Warenbegleitscheine. On Sept 28, no Wareribegleitscheine were returned stamped. Leopold of Treuhandstelle met with Freund acting for Orlopp Sept 28, and protested in strongest terms failure on part of East to correct Warenbegleitscheine situation, Freund expressed surprise at lack of improvement in situation. He stated he wld pursue matter on his side, and expressed his conviction that situation wld be normalized within next week. Leopold feels delay in returning Warenbegleitscheine of about five days and backlog of about 3,000 shld be considered normal.
2. Autobahn tax.
East Zone autobahn tax on Sept 21 was reduced as previously agreed. Receipt must now be shown at crossing point on return trip but no [Page 1877] further payment is required. Not yet clear that receipt indefinitely valid for return trip, since it contains no reference to it. There have been rumors that only a ten-day period permitted without additional tax payment. No truckers known to have been required to pay second time on completion of round trip.
3. Parcel post.
East Zone authorities still interfering with parcel post shipments in spite of general assurance given at time of signing of IZT agreement and despite specific assurance given by Orlopp to Leopold on Sept 22, 1951. This discussion occurred after Leopold had protested continuing interference and Orlopp had discussed with Sov auths. The latter agreed according to Orlopp that interference wld stop and specified that no objection wld be raised to weight of packages between 7 and 20 kilos or to commercial shipments on ground they lack Warenbegleitscheine. In mtg with Leopold Sept 28, however, Freund indicated question wld have to be settled in connection with Sov letter of Voronichev to Donodson HICOM Sept 18 (ref Frankfort’s 166 Sept 28, rptd Dept 28152). Leopold stated to us Sept 29 he now believed settlement of this question cld only be reached through Allied negotiations with Sovs, and added he considered Sov position hard to refute.
There has been appreciable statistical improvement in parcel post situation beginning several days prior to actual signing IZT. Backlog of outbound cars in Berlin declined from high of 92 on Sept 7 to 14 on Sept 15, and by Sept 19 had been completely cleared up. Backlog rose again to 10 on Sept 21, was cleared again on Sept 24, and has remained so since.
4. Rothensee shiplift.
East Zone press sources have stated shiplift will be opened before canal freezes, which is usually mid-Dec. Orlopp also informed Leopold that parts necessary for repair have been ordered from West Zone manufacturers, but declined to name these firms or further identify orders. Senat officials believe this installation is actually now in good shape and cld be opened promptly.
5. Confiscations.
One case of confiscation has arisen since the signing of IZT agreement. Berlin firm had shipment of 17 tons aluminum alloy ingots stopped at Marienborn Sept 26. Seizure reported to have been made on grounds that production of aluminum prohibited in Berlin and firm informed that Berlin city govt (presumably East sector) wld confiscate shipment. Freund told Leopold reason originally given for confiscation found to be in error and shipment being held for clarification. Case illustrates importance question as firm involved has only Western markets and now forced to shut down operation and release 50 employees.
[Page 1878]6. General conclusions.
We feel that while some action has been taken by Eastern auths to reduce harassment of Berlin’s external trade, Eastern auths certainly did not take prompt and effective action to carry out their commitments upon signature of IZT agreement. One possible explanation of their failure is suspicion which may still prevail in Sov HDQS that Allied auths, despite signature of IZT agreement, do not intend to permit its implementation. Although such suspicions unjustified, we informed they were strongly expressed Sept 27 by Sov Zone reps during mtg with Treuhandstelle reps in Frankfort and again Sept 28 in Berlin.
We believe that if promulgation of Berlin IZT legislation is now carried out, as ordered by AHC, this shld be a clear enough indication of Western good will. Meanwhile Treuhandstelle reps are stressing to Sov Zone auths that the latter are playing a dangerous game and that Western Powers take most serious view failure thus far to eliminate harassments to Berlin trade.
From the political point of view we believe that continued serious harassment of Berlin trade is inconsistent with present Sov propaganda line on Ger unification and that this factor may tend to bring Sov compliance with conditions set at signing of IZT agreement.
- Repeated to Washington and Bonn. The source text is the copy in the Department of State files.↩
- Not printed; it reported McCloy’s belief that negotiations concerning improvement in the parcel post situation should be left in German hands for the present. (462A.62B31/9–2851) A copy of the letter from the Chief of the Transport and Communications Division of the Soviet Control Commission, Voronichev, to the Chief of the Transport Division of the United States High Commission for Germany, Donodson, is in the Berlin Mission files, lot 66 F 110, Soviet letters, 1951.↩