1.
MV NIGHT. SIGN "YOU ARE LEAVING BRITISH SECTOR."
0.04

2.
MV WOMAN CARRIES CHILD THROUGH BARRIER.
0.10

3.
MLV CAR STOPS AT BARRIER, PASSES THROUGH.
0.20

4.
MV GUARD LIFTS BARRIER.
0.29

5.
MV PEOPLE THROUGH BARRIER.
0.34

6.
MV PEOPLE EMBRACE.
0.44

7.
LV WEST GERMANS WAIT FOR PASSES.
0.54

8.
MV DITTO (2 SHOTS).
1.04



Initials DS/S-EURO/BHH/LW


EDITORS SEE ALSO - 10334/63 20 DEC.

Script is copyright Reuters Limited. All rights reserved

Background: BERLIN, WHERE THE CHRISTMAS TRUCE HAS ENTERED ITS SECOND DAY, IS FACED WITH A PROBLEM OF CROWDS. PEOPLE PASSING THROUGH THE DIVIDING WALL TO MEET RELATIVES AND FRIENDS IN THE EASTERN SECTOR, AND OTHERS, WAITING IN THEIR THOUSANDS, FOR THE PRECIOUS PASSES WHICH NOW TAKE UP TO THREE DAYS TO GET.

TODAY, (SATURDAY), SOME 7-THOUSAND WEST BERLINERS, MANY LADEN WITH GIFTS, PASSED THROUGH THE BERLIN WALL CHECK-POINTS TO MEET AND EMBRACE LOVED ONES WHOM THEY'VE NOT SEEN FOR TWO AND A HALF YEARS. BUT AS JOYFUL REUNIONS TOOK PLACE, MORE THAN 30-THOUSANDS WEST BERLINERS QUEUED UP OUTSIDE THE 12 SCHOOL BUILDINGS WHERE EAST GERMAN POSTMEN SENT DAILY ACROSS THE BORDER ARE ISSUING APPLICATIONS AND PASSES.

WEST BERLIN'S MAYOR, HERR WILLY BRANDT ISSUED AN APPEAL DURING THE DAY FOR PATIENCE OVER THE ISSUE OF PERMITS. ACCORDING TO OBSERVERS, BOTH WEST AND EAST BERLIN OFFICIALS APPEAR TO HAVE CRITICALLY UNDER-ESTIMATED THE NUMBERS APPLYING FOR THE PASSES.

FOR MANY, THE HOPE OF CELEBRATING CHRISTMAS WITH FAMILIES IN BERLIN DWINDLED TODAY. WITH A THREE--DAY WAIT BETWEEN THE APPLICATION AND ISSUE OF PASSES THERE'S WIDESPREAD BELIEF THAT THE AUTHORITIES WILL NOT BE ABLE TO HANDOUT ALL THE PASSES REQUIRED BEFORE THE TRUCE COMES TO AN END.

TO HELP COPE WITH THE INCREASE IN THE FLOW OF APPLICANTS, THE NUMBER OF EAST GERMAN POSTMEN ISSUING APPLICATIONS AND PASSES HAS BEEN INCREASED TO 200; DOUBLE THE NUMBER ORIGINALLY AGREED TO. MEANWHILE, EAST GERMAN SOURCES SAY THAT IF THE POSITION DEMANDS IT, EVEN MORE POSTMEN WOULD BE SENT OVER TO THE WESTERN SECTOR ON MONDAY.