British Inquiry Wanted For Deaths Of Britons

Press, Volume CII, Issue 30325, 28 December 1963, Page 11

British Inquiry Wanted For Deaths Of Britons

(N.Z.P.A.-Reuter —Copyright)

LONDON, December 27

Three British newspapers today called for a British inquiry into the Lakonia disaster. while a fourth, the "Daily Herald,” suggested “an international inquiry with both Britain and Greece represented." The newspapers recalled that, although it was Greekowned, the ill-fated cruise liner had set out from a British port carrying a majority of British passengers booked by British agents. The “Daily Express” said: “An inquiry into the Lakonia disaster must be held in London.

“The public will be satisfied with nothing less than a full investigation carried out by British officials under British rules of evidence.

“Every pressure must be applied to get the Greek authorities to co-operate. “The cause of safety at tea

demands that the whole truth be made known to the world." The British Government should open a public inquiry into the disaster, Mr Patrick Gordon Walker, the Labour Party's spokesman on foreign affadi : said. He went on:

“In view of the grave allegartions about the accident to tl e Lakonia, the Government should at once set up a full public inquiry.

“Whatever the technical national registration of the ship, the passengers were almost wholly British and the cruise was organised by agents operating in this country “We must do our utmost to prevent any repetition of such a tragedy.”

In Piraeus, Greece, the Greek Government has started making arrangements for an inquiry.

A spokesman tor the General Steamship Navigation Company, owners of the

Lakonia, said that the ship's master, Captain Mathies Zarbis, had been ordered to go to Piraeus to report He and other senior officers are expected to arrive tomorrow

The Greek Ministry of Merchant Marine will begin an inquiry into the "causes of the disaster and nespons.bility” as soon as the ship’s

captain reports. Latest figures released by the owners, th# Greek Line, show that 96 persons ar# known to be dead, 901 survived, and 31 person# ar# missing.

The Greek Line said there had been 886 known survivors—s 37 passengers and 349 crew.

Eighty passengers and It of the crew died, and 34 passengers and 30 crew are missing.

There were 1041 people aboard the Lakonia—6sl passengers and 390 crew.