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While the Soviet propaganda mill churned out charges that West Berlin had become a "NATO base," Moscow officials formally protested the stoning of its buses in the western sector, which it blamed on "fascistic elements with the obvious connivance" of the U.S.
Moscow did not stop at that. Abruptly, the Russians announced that they were abolishing the office of Soviet commandant in Berlin; from now on, they suggested, their affairs in East Berlin would be taken care of by General Ivan Yaku-bovsky, Russian commandant in East Ger many itself. This, declared the Soviet Defense Ministry, was part of its "policy of eliminating in Europe the vestiges of the Second World War." Again, Berlin was in the banner headlines of the world press, for by this maneuver Russia was raising once again its thesis that four-power control of Berlin* is ended, and with it the rights of the U.S., Britain and France to station troops in West Berlin and maintain free access to the city.
Only as Agent. The West, of course, flatly rejects this idea, and the U.S. has made it clear that it would go to war rather than surrender the "three essentials" : right of free access to West Berlin, the presence of U.S. troops in the city, and survival of West Berlin's free economy and political system.
As a practical matter, four-power control in Berlin ended in June 1948, when Soviet General Alexander Kotikov walked out of the ruling Kommandatura early in the 13-month Berlin blockade. In a gleaming Berlin conference room, a seat is carefully saved for the Russians, but the U.S., British and French commandants have for years conducted their business on a tripartite basis. Fact is, the West can maintain its dealings with the Russians about as easily through General Yakubovsky, whose headquarters is in nearby Wiins-dorf, as it can with a Russian "Berlin commandant." The contacts have not been very intimate or frequent in any case.
In fact, the U.S. may not object to dealing with Major General Helmut Poppe, the East German who was "named" last week to replace the Russian Berlin commander, provided it is understood that he is acting only as "agent" for the Russians, and provided, above all, that the East German does not in any way attempt to undermine the West's position in West Berlin.
In a statement issued within a few hours of the Soviet change in commandants—a near-record feat for the State Department—the U.S. replied bluntly: "Regardless of how they organize themselves administratively, we continue to hold the Soviet Union responsible for carrying out its obligations in Berlin under existing agreements." It added: "This move appears to be an attempt by the Soviet Union to absolve itself from responsibility for the Communist actions in Berlin which have increased tensions so dangerously in that city."
Light Bulbs & Cigarettes. By contrast with the numbing depression that gripped their city when the Wall went up, Berliners were good and mad last week; there was no talk of an exodus. Said one: "We've pretty well separated the men from the boys by now." Pan American, British European Airways and Air France, the airlines serving West Berlin, were flying dozens of flights daily, with big loads coming as well as going.