BRANDT'S RESIDENCE; UNITED STATES, BRITISH AND FRENCH COMMANDANTS ARRIVE AND ENTER; MEET BRANDT; CITY HALL; BRANDT SHAKES HANDS WITH SCHEUTZ; SCHEUTZ AND BRANDT TALKING.




Initials SAW/V/PN/OS



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Background: WEST GERMAN CHANCELLOR WILLY BRANDT MET THE THREE WESTERN ALLIED COMMANDANTS, AND VISITED THE GOVERNING MAYOR KLAUS SCHEUTZ IN WEST BERLIN ON MONDAY (JANUARY 26) AS EAST GERMANY RESUMED ITS INTERRUPTIONS OF TRAFFIC ON THE CITY'S MAIN ROAD LINKS WITH THE WEST.

HERR BRANDT WAS IN WEST BERLIN ON A 24-HOUR VISIT AND DENOUNCED THE WEEK-LONG TRAFFIC CURBS.

HE SAID: "IT IS GROTESQUE TO SPEAK OF A RELAXATION OF TENSION AND MOLEST PEOPLE IN SUCH A SENSELESS WAY." HE SAID HE TALKED ONLY BRIEFLY WITH THE THREE WESTERN ALLIED COMMANDANTS ON THE SITUATION AT THE BORDER CHECKPOINTS. "WITH ALL DUE RESPECT TO THE COMMANDANTS, THEY COULD NOT HELP WITH ANY NEW INSIGHTS," HE SAID.

THE EAST GERMAN INTERRUPTIONS TO MOTOR TRAFFIC ARE APPARENTLY IN PROTEST AGAINST WEST GERMAN PARLIAMENTARY AND PARTY MEETINGS IN THE CITY.

AFTER HIS MEETING WITH THE COMMANDANTS HERR BRANDT DROVE TO CITY HALL -- WHERE HE HIMSELF RESIDED AS MAYOR FOR 10 YEARS -- FOR A 45-MINUTE TALK WITH HERR SCHEUTZ. NO DETAILS WERE GIVEN ABOUT THE MEETING, BUT IT WAS BELIEVED THE TWO EXCHANGED VIEWS ON A POSSIBLE NEW DIPLOMATIC MOVE TOWARDS THE EAST BY MAYOR SCHEUTZ.