BERLIN AIR COLLISION

Otago Daily Times, Issue 26748, 17 April 1948, Page 7

BERLIN AIR COLLISION

GERMAN WITNESSES SEEK PROTECTION Rec. 11 P.m. LONDON, Ap1.16. The Berlin correspondent of the Daily Telegraph says German witnesses at the British inquiry into the Beilin air crash have’ asked for protection against possible Russian reprisals against them. Most of them live near the boundary between the British sector of Berlin and the Russian zone, and it is understood that their testimony indicates that the collision was caused by the Russian fighter pilot Their names and addresses are likely to be withheld when the official report of the inquiry is issued. American as well as German witnesses were examined yesterday, ana the inquiry is expected to conclude to-day. Russians Examine Fighter British authorities last night gave permission for Russian experts to exmaine the wreckage of the Yak flghter and remove it to the Soviet zone. The Russians will make their examination to-day in the Dresence of a British observer, who, however, will neither ask nor answer questions. House of Lords Discussion In the House of Lords yesterday, Lord Jowitt, replying to Lord Vansit.tart, said that if the Government, as the result of the investigation of the Berlin air crash, was satisfied the Soviet fighter was to blame, it would claim compensation. Lord Jowitt said it would be ludicrous not to hear American witnesses at the inquiry. The Government could not agree with the Soviet contention that German witnesses should be regarded as unreliable. _ The British authorities were still willing to continue an investigation jointly with the Russians, whose withdrawal showed they did not wish to establish the facts, but only wanted to use the inquiry for propaganda purposes. Lord Vansittart said he believed the Soviet Staged “ this Berlin blackmail ’ to discredit Western democracy before the Italian elections.