AMNESTY OFFER

Press, Volume C, Issue 29508, 9 May 1961, Page 15

AMNESTY OFFER

Eichmann Defence

( N.Z.P.A .-Reuter—Copyright)

JERUSALEM, May 8. The Israeli Prosecutor, Mr Gideon Hausner, today promised safe conduct to two former Nazi elite guard officers to come to Israel to testify on behalf of Adolf Eichmann, on trial for crimes against the Jewish people, the Associated Press reported from Jerusalem. The prosecutor said he was authorised to give a pledge of immunity from arrest to former S.S. Colonel Walter Huppenkothen and former Major Wilhelm Hoettl.

Hoettl, said by the defence to be living at Alt-Aussee, Austria, is a former S.S. officer and deputy head of the intelligence section of the Reich Security Headquarters Huppenkothen was also an officer in the Reich Security Headquarters, in a department other than Eichmann's. The defence has said he is living in West Germany. Mr Hausner said one factor which influenced his decision was that the defence regarded Hoettl's evidence as the most important of the lot. In an affidavit given at Nuremburg during trials of major war criminals, and submitted by the prosecution to the Court. Hoettl—known as a historian under the name Walter Hagen—quoted Eichmann as telling him in Hungary in August. 1944. that the war was lost and he personally no longer had a chance.