Foreign Relations of the United States, 1952–1954, Germany and Austria, Volume VII, Part 2

762.0221/6–452: Telegram

No. 545
The Director of the Berlin Element, HICOG (Lyon) to the Office of the United States High Commissioner for Germany, at Bonn¹

secret

Berlin, June 4, 1952—7 p.m.

1238. Commandants met this morning and reviewed Berlin sitn.

1. Fr cdt indicated that sitn in Fr sector remains about the same; all roads to Sov Zone closed; however certain points at which one can cross: (a) with a pass; (b) without a pass; (c) not at all.

2. US commandant reported on: (a) sitn in Steinstuecken which continues to be somewhat confused with most pedestrians and bicyclists being permitted to pass uninterrupted; some food supplies being held up, some residents being told to get passes and contradictory reports from various German officials. Reuter pressing US for action. I have requested appointment see Dengin re Steinstuecken and intend to protest measures taken by Sovs to cut off Steinstuecken from rest of US sector;² (b) US MP westbound from Helmstedt permitted to proceed along autobahn and arrived safely Berlin today; (c) firing on US jeep (ref Berlin’s to Bonn 1233, rptd Dept 1452, EUCOM for Genl Williams 181³).

3. Brit cdt gave background on Rundfunkhaus operation (ref Berlin’s to Bonn 1232, rptd Dept 1451, London 224, EUCOM 180⁴) and his talk yesterday with Dengin (ref Berlin’s Bonn 1228 rptd Dept 1448, London 223, Paris 341, Moscow 278, EuCom 179⁵). He added nothing of importance to facts as reported in above telegrams save that in Rundfunkhaus Brit estimate there is one Sov officer and about 15 soldiers and unknown number of male and female civilians.

Other developments of interest this afternoon.

1. Brit sent letter to Dengin which they consider very definitely establishes fact that road to Eiskeller is part of Brit sector.

2. Genl Mathewson sent strong letter of protest to Dengin re Vopo firing on US patrol. Letter reaffirms Volkspolizei have no jurisdiction over members US occupation forces, condemns “use by east zone officials of naked and extreme force entirely disproportionate, from any civilized viewpoint, to alleged misdemeanor it was intended to correct,” and requests punishment of guilty parties. (Facts known re incident in addition to those reported earlier tel are that jeep was endeavoring turn around when struck by Vopo rifle bullet and was able return US sector under own power. Jeep actually was few yards inside Sov Zone when struck though this fact not conceded in letter to Dengin. Therefore request this not be confirmed to press.)

Lyon

1. Repeated to Washington, Paris, Moscow, London, and EUCOM; the source text is the copy in Department of State files.
2. On June 5 Lyon reported that he met with Susin, instead of Dengin, and had protested the harassment of the residents of Steinstuecken, Susin said that he had no details on the matter, but did admit that Steinstuecken was part of the American Sector. (Telegram 1464 from Berlin, June 5, 762A.0221/6–552)
3. Telegram 1233 reported that Volkspolizei had fired on a U.S. military police jeep that had mistakenly crossed into the Soviet Zone. (762.0221/6–452)
4. Telegram 1232 reported that the British had delayed placing barbed wire around the Soviet Tank Memorial. (861.422/6–452)
5. Telegram 1228 reported that Coleman had met with Dengin on June 3 and had told him, inter alia, that Soviet access to Rundfunkhaus would be granted only when Soviet authorities restored access to the British enclave of Eiskeller. (762.0221/6–352)