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Foreign News
August 16, 1961
The Nome Nugget
Nome, Nome County, Alaska
What is this article about?
Western powers take slow, cautious approach to Berlin crisis, hoping to avoid escalation from Communist blockade; West cuts trade with East Germany, East severs West Berlin's links, denying British weakening.
Clipping
OCR Quality
100%
Excellent
Full Text
West Takes Slow, Cautious Approach To Berlin Problem
LONDON (AP) The present mood of the Western powers is to take a slow, cautious approach to the Berlin problem in the hope the crisis won't get worse, diplomatic sources reported today.
"We're not ready to climb on to that escalator yet," one Western official in Berlin was quoted as saying in explanation of the reluctance to adopt any major reprisals for the Communist blockade in the middle of Berlin.
By climbing on the escalator he meant a series of reprisals and counter-reprisals that could lead to either the East or the West backing down -- or war.
The West replied to the Communist ban against refugees and commuters in Berlin by cutting off trade with East Germany; East Germany, with Soviet backing cut West Berlin's lifelines to West Germany; the West is left with the choice of trying an airlift again or shooting its way through on the ground.
A British Foreign Office spokesman in London firmly denied suggestions printed in some West German and French newspapers that the British are weakening in the resolve to resist Communist pressure.
LONDON (AP) The present mood of the Western powers is to take a slow, cautious approach to the Berlin problem in the hope the crisis won't get worse, diplomatic sources reported today.
"We're not ready to climb on to that escalator yet," one Western official in Berlin was quoted as saying in explanation of the reluctance to adopt any major reprisals for the Communist blockade in the middle of Berlin.
By climbing on the escalator he meant a series of reprisals and counter-reprisals that could lead to either the East or the West backing down -- or war.
The West replied to the Communist ban against refugees and commuters in Berlin by cutting off trade with East Germany; East Germany, with Soviet backing cut West Berlin's lifelines to West Germany; the West is left with the choice of trying an airlift again or shooting its way through on the ground.
A British Foreign Office spokesman in London firmly denied suggestions printed in some West German and French newspapers that the British are weakening in the resolve to resist Communist pressure.
What sub-type of article is it?
Diplomatic
War Report
What keywords are associated?
Berlin Problem
Western Powers
Communist Blockade
Reprisals
Airlift
East Germany Trade Cut
Where did it happen?
Berlin
Foreign News Details
Primary Location
Berlin
Outcome
west cuts off trade with east germany; east germany cuts west berlin's lifelines to west germany, leaving west with airlift or ground confrontation options.
Event Details
Western powers adopt slow, cautious approach to Berlin problem amid Communist blockade against refugees and commuters; reluctance for major reprisals to avoid escalator of counter-reprisals leading to war; British deny weakening resolve.