On this day, 77 years ago, March 21, 1948 (February 11, 1948 in the lunar calendar), the Soviet Union withdrew from the Alliance Council in Berlin. On March 21, 1948, after Soviet representatives withdrew from the Berlin Conference, tensions between the Western Allies and Russia suddenly intensified. There are disturbing reports that Russia has also moved more guard forces to the Soviet-American border in the German-occupied areas. The German daily newspaper said the Russians were trying to prevent refugees from flowing from Russian strongholds into the U.S. -occupied zone. The Russians were apparently annoyed that the Western Allies had not briefed him on recent meetings. They also expressed dissatisfaction with the allies 'refusal to form a German central government and the Soviets to share Ruhr products.