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

762.0221/1–1653: Telegram

No. 565
The Director of the Berlin Element, HICOG (Lyon) to the Department of State¹

secret
priority

Berlin, January 16, 1953—8 p.m.

1057. From Reber. Today’s meeting with Chuikov who was accompanied by Soviet Deputy Political Advisor dealt only with local problems.² I opened the conversation by raising the matter of recent Soviet interference with access to Autobahn of US Army wrecking cars.³ After short talk, General Chuikov promised to issue necessary orders stopping interference with our wrecking cars adding that he “had absolutely no” objection to the presence of our wreckers on the Autobahn for the purpose of aiding US motorists. He further gave assurance that there would be no interference with normal Allied traffic on the Autobahn. I then pressed him for the lifting of ban of US military police patrols pointing out that the regular patrol on the Autobahn would be most satisfactory method of rendering help to Americans driving to and from Berlin. He objected to this, however, in principle giving as his reason that the 1945 agreement gave Soviets responsibility for administration and control of Helmstedt–Berlin highway. He said he could not see why military police whose duty is to “police” were charged with technical functions which could better be performed by the wrecking service against which he had nothing in principle.

I then protested recent restrictions against free movement between west and east sectors of Berlin stating that in addition to a number of streets recently closed between the sectors it was reported this morning West Berlin trolley cars have been banned from the east sector and trolley cars from the west have been detained in the east sector. Chuikov expressed utter “amazement”, promised to investigate immediately. Chuikov also agreed with me that he too would prefer to see a more normal state of affairs in Berlin but blamed West Berlin for taking initiative in inaugurating custom checks. As to the number of the blocked streets, Chuikov dismissed that as rather immaterial since there must be at least 100 streets still open to the traffic between the west and east sectors.

Chuikov also requested West Berlin police cease their interference with the operations of the S-Bahn, quoting the death of an S-Bahn worker caused by the beating he received from the West Berlin police. I replied that West Berlin police do not interfere with the legitimate operation of the S-Bahn and recalled that they are charged with the responsibility of preventing any illegal activity.

I expressed satisfaction over the nearing solution of the Kulikov case and the case of privates Night and Michalowski as indicated by Chuikov’s letter to General Eddy.⁴ At this point a long discussion developed concerning the facts surrounding Kulikov’s case with Chuikov stubbornly maintaining the Soviet position that: (1) Kulikov had strayed by accident into the American sector, (2) was detained against his will and (3) his note asking for political asylum was faked. I contended that this entire futile argument can be and should be easily resolved by a personal interview with Kulikov and said there seemed to be some misunderstanding concerning the meeting of the Soviet representatives with Kulikov, since General Chuikov may send any military representative to the zone to interview Kulikov and this interview was not restricted to the members of the Soviet military mission in Frankfort. I replied to Chuikov’s reiterated demand to have the interview in Berlin by indicating that Kulikov was now a free man who did not wish to return to Berlin and whom we could not very well compel to come back here, especially since he is willing to meet with the Soviet military representatives in the zone. I added that we would of course be happy to make the necessary arrangements to transport the Soviet representative to the place of meeting. I also pointed out we were not seeking to impose any conditions on place of interview with Night and Michalowski. At this point Chuikov stated ominously that Night and Michalowski have requested political asylum in the GDR, that he Chuikov would ask the GDR to arrange for such a meeting, but on the other hand maybe those two men would not care to see an American representative.

I expressed hope that in future both parties could agree to make arrangements for interviewing such individuals more rapidly. I then asked if I should be able to give him names of the Americans thought to be in Soviet zone he would agree to our seeing them. He answered affirmatively.

General Chuikov then raised his objection to the HICOG Court decision concerning the turnover of the Soviet child Johanna Bobrovitch. Chuikov sweepingly rejected American court’s jurisdiction over the Soviet child, claimed this procedure to be contrary to the March 1946 Repatriation Agreement and insisted that he would take no cognizance of the existence of such a court. After explaining in considerable detail our judicial arrangement for protection of minor children, I promised however to examine Soviet allegation that HICOG action was contrary to the previous agreement on repatriation.

In conclusion I brought up the Linse case and reminded Chuikov that in accordance with Chuikov–Donnelly agreement,⁵ protocol chiefs were designated to conduct an investigation into the facts concerning this kidnapping, that only one such meeting had taken place, and despite the fact that sufficient additional information was transmitted to the Soviet protocol people, no concrete indication of any Soviet activity concerning this case has been forthcoming. Chuikov with hurt innocence stated that there has been additional correspondence from him in which he once again indicated that the Soviets have no information about Dr. Linse. When I pressed him for Linse’s return he categorically asserted that “we have not seen him, we have not heard of him and he has never been held by any of the Soviet agencies.”

It became obvious at outset of talk that Chuikov had no motive in setting meeting other than compliance with suggestion made during my visit to Berlin in December.⁶ He was correct and cordial but gave no evidence of any change in his previous firm attitude on any matter discussed. He was particularly insistent upon his right to interview Kulikov in Berlin hinting strongly that if this could not be managed he would not make arrangement for us to see two US military police.

It may be worth noting he did not bring up subject of alleged US terrorists and spy situation in Berlin or even repair to Soviet tank memorial though he has written me about both subjects recently.

Aside from his assurance regarding non-interference with traffic on Autobahn and access of wreckers to Autobahn, interview left situation about what it has been in past months.

Lyon

1. Repeated to Bonn, Moscow, and Heidelberg.
2. On Jan. 12 Reber had reported that in response to an approach by him General Chuikov had proposed a meeting in Berlin, which was now scheduled for Jan. 16. (Telegram 3181 from Bonn, Jan. 12, 762.0221/1–1253) Reber was advised by the Department of State the following day, in agreement with his appreciation, to raise only local issues and report anything of political nature without comment. (Telegram 3447 to Bonn, 762.0221/1–1253)
3. Soviet officials had stopped U.S. Army wreckers from assisting motorists on the autobahn beginning Oct. 18, 1952. By the end of January access for the wreckers had been restored.
4. Kulikov, a Soviet soldier, had defected to the West on Nov. 28; Night and Michalowski, two U. S. MPs, had been arrested in the Soviet Zone on Nov. 26. A copy of Chuikov’s letter to Eddy, dated Jan. 3, demanding the return of Kulikov, was transmitted in telegram 1004 from Berlin, Jan. 6. (761.551/1–653)
5. See telegram 472, Document 562.
6. Regarding Reber’s visit to Berlin at the end of December, see the memorandum of conversation, supra.