vierteljahrshefte für zeitgeschichte - Institut für Zeitgeschichte

148
Dokumentation
program and give us practical advice on what we can do to improve the situation in
Germany. They know the situation thoroughly. It represents five months of backing
us up in the States. They know the situation well and I think they will give very good
advice.
An interesting highlight on the Yehudi Menuhin concert on Monday and Tuesday
is: he is arriving by special plane tomorrow on his own offer to add Berlin to his concert
tour. 81 We have received a message from him this morning saying he would like
to have DP's and German school children admitted. He is apparently going to carry on
the same good work he has heretofore.
MR. SHUBERT 82 , Public Information: I have nothing.
MR. DeNEUFVILLE 83 , Intelligence: I have several items for our people in Berlin.
The City Council last night decided that the United Nations should take a stand on
the Berlin situation. There was a decision or plan that directed someone to draw up
a letter or cable to be sent United Nations. That was adopted on a non-party basis.
There were a few extensions; otherwise, it would be an unanimous vote. 84
The SED is not having a great deal of success with its plans to organize general
strikes of protest here. Apparently, the trade union leaders, even the Communists, are
against it because they say it will be a weakness rather than strength.
The exchange of money in the Soviet sector is very chaotic. The exchange that we
are making in our sector - the actual procedure comes in with very favorable comment
because it is much more quick and more efficient. As for the rate of exchange
between the Soviet mark and the Deutsche Mark, rumors have it it will be anything
from five to one Deutsch Mark up to twenty for one, but some deals were actually
concluded last night of eight to one. That seems to be the going rate on the black
market.
I think that is all.
GENERAL CLAY: If they keep on, they will be able to get more Soviet marks for
the one Deutsch Mark than they had Deutsch Marks to turn in-
COLONEL WILLARD 85 , Berlin Command: Nothing.
COLONEL DUKE 86 , Personnel: Nothing.
MR. SUNDQUIST 87 , Control Officer: Nothing.
MR. KING 88 , Secretary General: Nothing.
DR. FRIEDRICH 89 , Governmental Affairs: General Hays, the sheet rate on stamps is
700 marks. I had hoped to be able to make a final report on these meetings of the German
governmental and political leaders with the people in the Ruhr coal mining in-
81
Der amerikanische Geigenvirtuose Jehudi Menuhin hielt sich damals zu einer Konzertreise
fur Wohltätigkeitszwecke in Deutschland auf.
82
L. B. Shubert, News Branch of Public Information Office, OMGUS.
83
Lawrence E. DeNeufville, Deputy Director of Intelligence Office and Chief of Analysis
and Research Branch, OMGUS.
84
Am 25. Juni 1948 beschloß der Magistrat von Berlin, die Vereinten Nationen auf die schwierige
Situation der Stadt hinzuweisen. Die Eingabe an die UN, die auch den vier Besatzungsmachten
unterbreitet worden war, wurde auf einer außerordentlichen Sitzung des Magistrats
am 28. Juni 1948 formuliert. Siehe Die Neue Zeitung vom 27. 6. 1948.
85
Robert A. Willard, Commanding Officer, Berlin Command.
86
James D. Duke, Personnel Officer, OMGUS.
87
James L. Sundquist, Control Officer, OMGUS.
88
James E. King, Acting Secretary General, OMGUS.
89
Carl J. Friedrich, Governmental Affairs Adviser to Military Governor.