§ Mr. Mulleyasked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs what action His Majesty's Government proposes to take in view of the obstruction by the Soviet authorities of the export of goods from West Berlin.
§ Mr. Ernest DaviesIn a statement issued on 26th July the Allied High Commission for Germany explained that, while they remained willing to continue discussions with the Soviet authorities on illegal trade in Berlin and to authorise signature by the German Federal Government of a new interzonal trade agreement so soon as the present Soviet restrictions on Berlin's exports were removed, they must reserve the right to take such steps as might be necessary to ensure that the free movement of West Berlin's legitimate trade is restored.
His Majesty's Government fully endorse this statement. In conjunction with the United States and French Governments they have now arranged to make additional civil aircraft available on the Berlin run so as to move out of the city the export goods that have accumulated there.
If the financing of this air service necessitates any payment by the Exchequer, it may be necessary in due course to lay a Supplementary Estimate before the House and, in the meanwhile, to have recourse to the Civil Contingencies Fund.