KIDNAPPED MEN

Ashburton Guardian, Volume 60, Issue 39, 25 November 1939, Page 5

KIDNAPPED MEN

OUTRAGE BY THE GESTAPO. ON PERFECTLY PROPER MISSION NAZI ALLEGATIONS UNTRUE. Suited Press Association —Copyright.! (Received This Day, 11 a.m.) j LONDON, November 24. In connection with information now current that the two British subjects who were kidnapped a fortnight ago by Gestapo agents on Dutch territory near the German frontier, had gone there accompanied by a Dutch official for the purpose of meeting certain German emissaries, it can bo authoritatively stated that the meeting had been arranged as a consequence of a suggestion which had reached London and which was understood to have emanated from important elements in Nazi ruling circles. These suggestions bore on -the possibility of peace and were of a character to render obviously necessary some investigation of their bona fides. Captain Stevens and Mr Best were accordingly entrusted with the task, which, however delicate, was entirely proper and honourable. The Dutch.authorities were duly informed and raised no objection.

The circumstances of the G_estapo plot to kidnap tho two riieii in-violation of Dutch neutrality are obsiirc, and. nothing is in the involved allegations of secret service activities, sabotage and complicity hi.the homb ; outrage at Munich with which the Nazis have sought to cover up their act- of brigandage, helps in the meantime to remove the obscurity. - Several explanations are possible,, but the ,tendency, here, is to assume that Herr Hiipmlpr ’ s.„.,age,iits discovered what was afoot and had decided to prevent the communication of peace proposals from important quarters in Germany! The idea-of pretending that' the two victims of’ ‘the kidnapping had any connection with the plot at Munich was probably an afterthought on the part of the Gestapo. It is emphasised that the’missioiv entrusted to Captain Stevens and Mr Best was solely that of receiving information or proposals. They, llad no proposals or suggestions to transmit iii return.

The view of the incident taken ,by tho Dutch authorities would appear to he reflected in the comment of the Amsterdam “Telegraf” which described it as a flagrant violation of Dutch territory, pointing out that it was a wellorganised attack on a Dutch car on Dutch territory by eight armed Germans who “not only committed a serious violation of our sovereignty hut also a crime for which the Dutch law provides heavy penalties.”—British Official IV reless. ...

TWO DUTCHMEN KILLED.

GOVERNMENT REPR K3ENTATIVES

(Received This Day, 10.45' a.m.) LONDON, November 24. The Amsterdam correspondent l of the Associated Press of Great Britain says that a; Dutch intelligence officer named Hetvollc and Lieutenant Klon were killed -when Mr Best and Captain Stevens were arrested. Lieutenant Klop accompanied the Britons in the interests of Dutch neutrality. THE DUTCH BORDER INCIDENT. THEIR PRESENCE EXPLAINED. THE HAGUE, November 24. An official Dutch statement on the Venlo incident says: “In the car were, two Englishmen who produced authority to show, that they.<liad per-. mission to make, contact, jwith the Germans to study , the., possibility ()f peace negotiations. They were accompanied by a Dutch officer, who was supervising in the interests of our neutrality.” ' ’

Router’s correspondent, commenting on the statement at' The ’Hague about the Venlo kidnapping',' says: “The fact is that the proposal for peace negotiations came from Germany, The Britishers concerned merely conveyed the German proposals to their, authorities and, when kidnapped by the Gestapo,, were going to the frontier to receive .further proposals.”. . .' ” ' V ; The “Daily Mail” says that Captain' Stevens and Mr Best were-acting with the knowledge of the British Government. They had been in communication with highly placed Gormans for some time, hut at no time did they convey British proposals nor commit the British Government to any course of action. They acted merely as “postmen.”