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Documents on Germany, 1944-1959 : background documents on Germany, 1944-1959, and a chronology of political developments affecting Berlin, 1945-1956
(1959)
Address by the Secretary of State Dulles in Berlin, May 8, 1958, pp. 273-277
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Page 273
DOCUMENTS ON GERMANY, 1944-59 273 The Soviet Government reiterates its proposal on the establishment in Europe of a zone of aerial inspection to a distance, of 800 kilometers east and west of the line of demarcation of the armed forces of the NATO and Warsaw Pact military groups. As for the proposal for carrying out aerial photography of vast regions or of the whole territory of the USSR and the USA, this question cannot be considered apart from measures for easing interna- tional tension and strengthening trust between states, especially be- tween the Great Powers. In the present international situation, with the continuing arms race, which causes international tension as well as distrust and suspicion in the relations between states, with the "cold war" casting its black shadow over the whole international situation, the proposal concerning reciprocal flights over the entire territories of both countries is unrealistic. The Soviet Government considers, how- ever, that this step can be carried out at the concluding stage of the problem of disarmament, that is, when the question concerning the com- plete ban on atomic and hydrogen weapons, with their elimination from armaments, concerning the substantial reduction of the armed forces and armaments of states, and concerning the liquidation of military bases in foreign territories is settled, that is, when relations of trust between states are actually established. * : * * * * * Address by Secretary of State Dulles in Berlin, May 8,1958' It is an inspiration to be again in Berlin, for my fourth visit since the end of World War II. I was here a few months after the close of hostilities. I then saw Berlin as a mass of rubble. It seemed that the city was beyond the possibility of reconstruction. I felt at the time that the plight of Berlin presented a challenge which was beyond human response. But that almost unbelievable challenge was in fact met through a display of human energy and human faith which has few parallels in history. Then, in 1948, I rode the airlift to Berlin. The Soviet Union was at that time imposing an economic blockade which it seemed would force the city to succumb. But the courage and resourcefulness of the peo- ple of Berlin, and of the free nations which mounted and sustained the airlift, demonstrated that freedom had a power of resourcefulness and resilience which the despots had grossly underestimated. Berlin was not isolated. The attempted blockade was abandoned and Berlin continued proudly to demonstrate within the captive world the good fruits of freedom. I was next here in January 1954 to attend the Four Power Con- ference which it was hoped would bring about the reunification of Germany in freedom and the liberation of Austria. We were spurred in our effort by the tragic events of the preceding June and July when the workers in East Berlin and the Soviet occupied zone rose in a rebellion usually known as "June 17". This spontaneous, courageous and brutally repressed demand by the workers for decent conditions made it the more urgent that the alien occupation should be ended and the liberation of Germany accomplished. 'Department of State press release 253, May 8., 1958.
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