762.0221/6–1252: Telegram
No. 548
The Director of the Berlin Element,
HICOG (Lyon) to the Office of the United States High Commissioner for
Germany, at Bonn1
1277. Commie campaign of harassment against West Berlin initiated in reprisal for signing of contractual agrmts and EDC now appears to have passed through first phase without having had any appreciable effect on status and security of city or on determination of West Berliners to stand fast in face of Commie pressure.
Drastic Commie measures against West Berlin which were anticipated in many quarters as result of violent Ulbricht threats and fulminations of Commie press have largely failed to materialize thus far. Berlin’s normal road, rail, air and water communications with West remain in full operation (with exception of MP Autobahn patrols). Commie-inspired E sector demonstrations against Bonn Govt and Western Allies since May 26 have been unimpressive in scope (with possible exception of that of May 29), and in few instances where effort made to penetrate West Berlin, mobs have been broken up quickly and without undue difficulty by normal West Berlin police force. West Berlin internal telephone service now functioning normally after some original inconvenience caused by action of East auths in cutting off West Berlin’s connections with East Berlin and Sov Zone; evidence indicates in fact that this action may have boomeranged to some extent against Commies. In all other respects communications between West and East Berlin are functioning normally.
Only aspects of Commie pressure thus far which appear to have aroused any concern among local population have been cutting off of access to Sov Zone, where many West Berliners have relatives, farms, etc., which they cld previously visit without hindrance, and series of Commie-inspired incidents around West Berlin perimeter, particularly those involving West Berlin exclaves. Situation re latter appears to be returning to normal, at least for moment, and residents are traveling back and forth freely with GDR passes. Troublesome aspect of matter remaining unsolved, however, is that West Berliners other than exclave residents are apparently not being permitted to transit Sov Zone to exclaves unless they are in possession of special GDR pass.
[Page 1271]In balance, morale of West Berliners seems not only generally unimpaired but, if anything, higher than before current Commie war of nerves and pinpricks initiated. Berliners tend to thrive when in limelight, and such recent developments as repeated assurances by SecState and High Commissioner of Western determination to stand by Berlin at all costs, Eden visit,2 and such Allied reprisals as expulsion of Sov guards from Griebnitzsee and blockade of Rundfunkhaus, have combined to hearten and encourage average Berliner and re-instill in him “front-line” spirit of airlift period.
In brief, therefore, life in West Berlin is on the whole functioning quite normally, and local population faces possibility of renewed Commie pressure with relative equanimity. Shld pressure of more drastic character materialize, however, Western Allies may expect to find themselves confronted with local demands for equally drastic countermeasures. In addition, as we have stressed previously, there is always danger that if Sov pressure shld be applied in unspectacular and drawn-out fashion, morale of Berliners might tend to flag over long haul.