JOHN AMERY TO STAND TRIAL

Press, Volume LXXXI, Issue 24633, 1 August 1945, Page 7

JOHN AMERY TO STAND TRIAL

HIGH TREASON CHARGE

ALLEGED /ACTIVITIES FOR GERMANY (N.2. Press Association— Copyright) LONDON, July 30. John Amery, son 1 of the former Secretary of State for India (Mr L. S. Amery), was to-day committed for trial on a clferge of high treason. Amery pleaded not guilty and reserved his defence. The prosecutor (Mr L. A. Byrne), outlining the case against Amery at Bow Street, said that in applications for a special passport, the last of which was made in July, 1942, through the protecting Power, Amery declared that he was a British subject. “It is alleged that the prisoner, on behalf of the enemy, urged British subjects, both soldiers and civilians, who were interned in France, to join a military force which he called the Legion of St. George,” said Mr_ Byrne. “Amery is alleged to have visited an internment camp at St. Denis and to have told the British internees that if they joined the legion they would be used to fight against the Russians, not against their own countrymen. “Literature which he distributed included the following proclamation: 'Fellow countrymen; one hundred and fifty thousand of our fellow countrymen are in prison in the home country because they declared themselves against this fratricidal war.' The proclamation declared that the Americans were in occupation of Ulster naval base?, which had been handed over to America. It also spoke of the dangers of Bolshevism.” “Against Bolshevism” Mr Byrne said that Amery, in his proclamation, stated; “I have approached the German Government to form a British legion against Bolshevism. I appeal to all Britons to answer this call to arms in the defence of our homes, children, and all civilisation against Asiatic and Jewish bestiality.” The proclamation said that British representation in Berlin formally guaranteed all ranks permanent, wellplaced jobs in the British administration, It added that hundreds of soldiers had volunteered for the legion, and that many Royal Air Force aeroplanes “are coming over to us.” The proclamation was signed by John Amery. Mr Byrne said that the second class of offence of which Amery was alleged to be guilty was propaganda speeches for the enemy in France, Norway, Belgium, Italy, and Jugoslavia. The third class was a series of broadTwo intelligence officers on May 22 saw Amery as an internee. -He typed a long statement, from which, Mr Byrne alleged, it was obvious that Amery adhered to the King’s enemies. The statement said that Amery, after his bankruptcy in 1937, practically left England for good. Amery, in Paris in 1940, saw his father and told him that the French Army did not want to fight and would be very rapidly defeated. His father did not share his view, and he suggested that his son should join up, perhaps in the political intelligence. Amery agreed, but while winding up his business affairs France collapsed and he was “trapped.” He remained in the south of Franco doing nothing. Statement by Accused Recalling the outbreak of war with Russia, Amery, in a statement, said; “It was my considered opinion and also that of my friends, notably Doriet and Deat (pro-Nazi French politicians), that Europe was in the greatest peril of Communist invasion. This invasion would sweep the Continent unless the different countries of Europe pushed through a social revolution which would spike the guns of the Communists in their world-wide revolutionary activities. “It was also our view that the Jewish race was mixed up with and was working hand in glove with Moscow. In consequence it was a very great shock to me when Britain and Russia became Allies, so much so that I thought the people responsible in London were acting in a manner that no longer coincided with British Imperial interests.” A German emissary approached Amery after his release and after negotiations for safe conduct, he went to Germany as “Browne.” There were a number of other Englishmen in Germany, including, William Joyce (“Lord Haw-Haw”), Lieutenant Baillie-Stew-art and their friends, who considered themselves Germans. "In consequence, their views and outlook widely differed from mine,” said Amery. Amery told Hess that “as an Englishman he considered something might be attempted” with an uncensored hour on the radio. Hess declared that he had no interest in questions not concerning England, in which he was uniquely interested. Hess, a fortnight later, after negotiations with the Propaganda Ministry, told Amery to consider himself the guest of the Reich and suggested a series of weekly uncensored broadcasts. Amery later protested against the uselessness of his appealing for unity against Russia when a few minutes after his broadcast another Englishman yelled abuse at England. Disagreements on Policy Amery then went to Paris. Doriet and Amery believed that Vichy must be overthrown. Deat’s view leaned to peaceful, continual pressure against the German representatives until their point of view was accepted. Amery returned to Berlin and tackled Hess again concerning what he (Doriet) considered the “mad foreign policy.” Hess, who never got over the criminal folly of the bombardment of England in 1940-41. listened patiently. Amery told him that a British anti-Bolshevik legion, however small, must be created. If England saw Europe uniting against Bolshevism she would come in. Amery found that the “British Legion” in Berlin was progressing dreadfully slowly. It was taken over by the S.S. , , ~ Amery described his visits to other European countries. He had an interview with Mussolini, who, even after liis military reverses, was confident that he could repeat the Munich organisation and procure peace “on lines we are thinking of.” Amery refused an commission, and decided to go to Como. He was captured by partisans snd handed over to the British. He denied saying one word against his country. The statement ended with an ex-

planation of his Socialist and anticommunist views. “May I be permitted to suggest to the Political Intelligence Department of His Majesty’s Government that in some form or other I can still carry on my life’s political work and render very considerable services to my country,” said the statement. Counsel for the defence said that Amery, now, as always, had been proBritish and that none of his actions had been against the British Empire. Mr Byrne handed the Magistrate another statement in which Amery was alleged to have described his activities in Belgrade. The statement said that he had numerous contacts with Serbians who were neutral or were hypnotised by the idea that their salvation would come from London. The German authorities were appreciative of his speeches in Belgrade. On the night he returned to Berlin his offices were destroyed in a raid. Thereupon he went to Paris, where he got a news service working satisfactorily, as in Berlin. He later went to Norway, spoke in three cities, and encouraged Quislingites. Mr Byrne displayed a poster in Italian with a photograph of Amery, whose words Italians were asked to believe. Amery, on the poster, told Italians that their sufferings were caused by “the gang who threw the British Empire into a criminal and ridiculous war, and also by Churchill and his gang, who have not hesitated to drag England’s flag and fair name into the mud and ordered indiscriminate bombing of women and children.” The poster added that what Italians heard from the London radio did not express the English people’s minds and was enly propaganda from “the gang which is leading the British Empire to ruin.” Amery pleaded not guilty, reserved his defence, and was committed for trial