BERLIN: Passes Please

West Berlin Mayor Willy Brandt had feared that the Communists were starting a new round of "salami" tactics against Berlin, and last week proved him right. Fortnight ago, Party Boss Walter Ulbricht's East German regime declared a five-day period during which passes would be required of West Germans entering the city's Communist east sector. Last week, taking another slice, the East Germans made the pass requirement permanent for West Germans visiting East Berlin. Excepted from the rule: foreigners and native Berliners, who cross the border by the thousands each day to work in the east. "This will help to sober up the West German militarists," said Ulbricht.

The U.S. called the pass rule "completely illegal," since it violated the old four-power wartime agreements. But as with all Soviet harassment in Berlin, the problem is what effective counter-measures may be taken. The U.S., British and French ambassadors to Bonn hurried into consultation with the West Germans to consider whether to retaliate by curtailing East Germany's $250 million annual trade with Bonn. Economics Minister Ludwig Erhard (who is Acting Chancellor while Konrad Adenauer is vacationing on Italy's Lake Como) called on businessmen for a voluntary trade boycott.

Hardened Berliners took the new rule calmly enough: they had known worse harassment before. Mainly affected would be West Germans visiting relatives in Communist East Berlin, and so far the passes were easy to get. The nagging question in everyone's mind was how thick the next slice of salami would be.