§ 60. Mr. J. Hyndasked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs whether his attention has been drawn to the fact that, despite the agreements reached with the railway authorities of Eastern Germany, and guaranteed by the Russian occupation authorities following the 39 days' strike of Berlin railwaymen, the authority is now refusing payment of wages in Western currency, and has already victimised over 1,000 of the strikers; and whether he will make representations to the Russian authorities and/or provide relief for the victimised railwaymen living in the Western sectors of Berlin.
§ Mr. MayhewYes. The Allied High Commission, acting through the West Berlin Commandants, has repeatedly tried without success to persuade the Russian authorities to honour their undertakings in this matter. It does not lie within the power of the Allied Commandants to provide special relief from Allied funds to the victimised workers. However, to reduce hardship to those West sector railwaymen working in the Soviet sector, to whom the East German Railway Administration has refused to pay even a percentage of their wages in West marks, the allied Kommandatura has authorised the Magistrat to exchange up to 60 per cent. of their wages into West marks.