1.
GV SOVIET MISSION MILITARY BUILDING, U.S. SENTRIES OUTSIDE.
0.04

2.
LV DITTO
0.07

3.
CU SIGN POST - "GOLDAMMERSTRASSE"
0.10

4.
SV SPECTATORS WATCHING
0.12

5.
CU NOTICE "SOVIET MILITARY LIAISON"
0.15

6.
LV NOTICE BOARD PAN TO AMERICAN GUARDS
0.21

7.
SV TWO AMERICAN GUARDS MPs
0.25

8.
BACK VIEW - AMERICAN POLICE PATROLLING
0.30

9.
LV RADIO TOWER
0.33

10.
TILT DOWN OF MAST TO RADIO TOWER
0.37

11.
SV MP ENTERS RADIO TOWER
0.41

12.
LV TRUCK LOADED WITH WOOD
0.45

13.
CU WOOD ON TRUCK PAN TO TRUCKS U.S. ARMY
0.50

14.
LV AMERICAN AND GERMAN POLICE TALK.
0.53

15.
LV RUSSIAN WOMAN TALKS IN MISSION SECTOR
0.57

16.
SV AMERICAN & GERMAN POLICE SHAKE HANDS
1.03

17.
CU AMERICAN MP ON RADIO PHONE
1.07

18.
LV AMERICAN MP's OUTSIDE U.S. MISSION.
1.11



Initials KJ/V/IRMD KB/V/JH/CJB



Script is copyright Reuters Limited. All rights reserved

Background: STEEL-HELMETED AMERICAN MILITARY POLICE WITH MACHINE PISTOLS SURROUNDED THE VILLA OF THE SOVIET MISSION ON THE OUTSKIRTS OF FRANKFURT, WEST GERMANY, MAR 29, TO PREVENT MEMBERS FROM LEAVING EXCEPT UNDER AMERICAN ESCORT.

A SENTRY WAS POSTED OUTSIDE THE GATE OF THE MISSION COMPOUND, A RADIO VAN PARKED NEARBY, SPECIAL TELEPHONE LINES WENT UP AND A WOODEN HUT WAS ERECTED FOR WHAT APPEARED TO BE A PROLONGED "SIEGE" WHILE FRANKFURT POLICE SEALED OFF CONNECTING STREETS TO MOTOR AND PEDESTRIAN TRAFFIC.

THE ACTION WAS ORDERED BY GENERAL BRUCE CLARKE, THE UNITED STATES ARMY COMMANDER IN EUROPE, FOLLOWING AN "UNACCEPTABLE ANSWER" FROM MARSHAL KONIEV, RUSSIAN ARMY COMMANDER IN GERMANY, TO A COMPLAINT ABOUT THE EAST GERMAN POLICE SHOOTING AT A CAR OF THE AMERICAN MILITARY MISSION AT POTSDAM. THE INCIDENT OCCURRED NEAR GOTHA, EAST GERMANY, MAR 20.

U.S. ARMY HEADQUARTERS IN HEIDELBERG ANNOUNCED THAT, FOR THE TIME BEING, THE AMERICAN MISSION AT POTSDAM WOULD UNDER TAKE NO FURTHER TRIPS THROUGH EAST GERMANY. ITS WORK WILL BE RESTRICTED TO MAINTAINING CONTACT WITH THE RUSSIAN ARMY H.Q.

GENERAL CLARKE PROPOSED DISCUSSION WITH MARSHAL KONIEV AT THE "EARLIEST POSSIBLE MOMENT" TO AVOID A FURTHER WORSENING OF RELATIONS, TO EASE THE RESTRICTIONS AND TO RESTORE NORMAL CONDITIONS. HE EXPLAINED HIS REJECTION OF MARSHAL KONIEV'S REPLY BY SAYING THE RUSSIAN ARMY COMMANDER HAD FAILED TO GUARANTEE THE FUTURE SAFETY OF AMERICAN MISSION MEMBERS.