Allied Control Council for Germany

Quadripartite Activity: The only quadripartite activity which was carried on during the period under review was the discussion of Germany at the meeting of the Council of Foreign Ministers in Paris from May 23 to June 20, 1949. A series of informal conversations between Philip C. Jessup, Ambassador-at-Large of the United States, and Yakov A. Malik, Soviet Representative on the Security Council, in New York had led to an agreement for the lifting of the blockade of Berlin on May 10 and the convening of the Council of Foreign Ministers ten days later. The blockade was only partially lifted, however, due to restrictions on auto traffic between Berlin and Helmstedt, and a strike of railroad workers in the Eastern Sector of Berlin. On June 3, the Russian Commandant in Berlin, Major-General Alexander Kotikov, met with the United States, British, and French Commanders for the first time since June 16, 1948, to discuss the rail strike. No agreement was reached, however. The rail strike was finally settled on June 29, 1949.