MOSCOll L.T.-DELCO. THURSDAY, DEC.1 1 , 1958 (G ven by Allan Jac kson , L .T. in Z anz ib ar) Today's b l ast from M o scow hae a menacing sound. The oviete declarin - they'd consider it an "act of war", if the western p owers tried to break through to Berlin by force. However, this "act of war" talk should be taken in relation to the whole Moscow statement. Issued by Tase, the official Soviet news agency, the pronunciamento concerns the Moscow proposal made a couple of wee ago. That West Berlin be made - a "free city". With Russia tuming over to the East German Reds - its authority in the Soviet Zone. The westem Allies and west Germany have rejected the "free city" scheme for west Berlin. They take the view, likewise, that the Soviets are obligated by treaty - to continue their control in East Germany, under the four-powr occupation. So the Moscow declaration, today, is an answer to this Westem att it ude. The statement attacks the Western powers for their firm refusal to negotiate on the basis of the "free city" l MOSCCM - 2 euggest i on, and adds that the Soviets now can only go aheld and turn Russian control over to Communist East Germany. Which, of course, would put the East German Reds in command ot the roads to Berl i n. Roads - the Western powers have to use 1n getting to and from the city. To k eep their communications open, they'd have to deal with East Germany - and the Weetem powers have been retuei to grant any such recognition to the puppet regime. So that•s the background for today's Moscow warning against any possible Western attempts to "break through" to weat Berlin. Which the Soviets and their satellites would regard \ ) .. _l .,. . . ' l~ ' . :-- \ __. ~Cf~ ~ - ,l l I,,_ • • l ' I . as an "act or war." \ ' ~ \ ( . ' l , • u Last weekend, the report was - that the United States had been on the verge or sending American tanlcs to liberate a convoy of u.s.Army trucks. Which - had been detained by COllllllWl1st East German guards • This incident passed without any particular trouble, but it may oe eeneldePed. ill eonneetlon with to<!ay•s MbS"eow waPAin~. ft points up the question - w~at would happen if MOSCCJi - 3 communist East Germany took ove~the control of the comunication lines? Would the Western Allies merely ignore the German Reds? ~ight they uee force - to get through? Such conjecturee appear to be the background for today's belligerent blast from Soviet Russia. Meanwhile, the Russians, today - rejected an American demand. That they procure the reliase or a u.s.Army officer, held prisoner by the East German Reds. After he made an accidental forced landing - in a small plane. The Soviets reply that it is none of their concern. That the Americans - should negotiate with C01111unist East Germany tor the return or the prisoner. All part of the pattern - of trying to make the west grant some sort of recognition to the puppet regime. GENEVA The news from Geneva - is mixed. In the negotiations for a ban on teet atomic explosions, the Russiane, today - showed some ei g n of yielding. The United Statee wante a proviso - that nuclear explosions for peaceful purpoeee shall be permitted. Which seems reasonable, because how could you have progress along the lines of "atoms for peace" without scientific test■J Today, Russian opposition seemed to be - weakening. But inthe other conference, the one on precautions against eurprise attacks - the Rustian delegate delivered his angriest harangue thue far. Charging - that Western proposals would increase the danger of surprise attack, and saying, that the principal purpose of the west is to learn the location of Russian adll missile bases. This ties in with a dis . patch from southern Asia, the border of Tibet. Where the word is that the Soviets are constructing a network of missile bases on the high Tibetan plateau. The advantages are obvious - at an altitude of fifteen thousand feet, 6il,..ss1les there would be three milfs high - when launched. They say that, from the roof of the world, intercontinental rockets with a range or six thou1and miles - would be able to strike alaoet anywhere. txcept - America. we, as it happens, are a long way fro ■ Tibet. GERMANY - TRIAL West Germany i~ now staging an exciting trial - with angles of puzzlin mystery, and nosy courtroom scenes. The legal proceedings grow out of the case of Dr. Otto John, former Security Chief of the West Gennan governmP.nt. Who d i s~peared behind the Iron Curtain, and then came back to West Germany. Where he was convicted of treason - and served a term in prison. At the trial now being held in Karlsruhe, the detendanti is a physician, Dr. Wohlgemuth - who accompanied Otto John on hie trip into the Soviet Zone. The former Security Chief declares that Wohlgemuth drugged him, and then took him over to the Rede. On the witness stand Otto John, today, accused the physician to his face. Wohlgemuth retorting - that there wae no drugging, that Otto John voluntarily defected and went over to the Communists. There wa~ an angry exchange - as each accused the other. In Italy, today, an earthquake shook the cities of Siena and Florence. Nothing disastrous - no casualties, and not much damage. However, the point is - the tremblor, today , was the thirty-seventh in central Italy in the past week. All - minor shocks. But thirty-seven are a lot of earthquakes - in seven days. Some deep disturbance in the rocks - tar down below such classical cities ae Florence and Siena. INTRO. TO RECORDING , And ow let I s o wingin a\ · 1ay to some strange exotic places - as Lowel Thomas ves us another report on his distant journey. ( CRlPT r£VER ECElVED lN OfflCE) (Recording 1:58) ( ) ) I . ' ' ) ,I LONDON a Over in Londo n , a n off i c i a l answer t o ~ question concern ing - roya l ty and beer. Is it proper for a brewery, advertisin g i te foamy product, to uee a p cture of Her Maje!ty, the Queen ? The problem came up when a Canadian brewery dietrib~ted Chr i s t mas carde in England. Yuletide greetings - from the brewery. The Christmas cards showing - Queen Elizabeth the Second and her husband, the Duke of Edinburgh. Tle royal couple - dancing together. Some sedate Britishers were shooked by the combination of royalty and beer, and the question was taken - to Buckingham Palace. Wh i ch now - g ives a ruling. It•s okay, says the palace - for a brewery to use I pictures of Her Majeety and the Duke. But there must be no drin k e the beer - or her sort of i ntimation that the Queen rl.Z:bllt&J;.>ea%KlllrJt.JUl~UJlllrl~IIZ husband e i ther. ~ The i mp li cat i on i s, I suppose, t ha t t he royal family m ig ht p refe r - E ome other brand of b eer.