DUKE’S TALK WITH HESS

Dominion, Volume 34, Issue 197, 17 May 1941, Page 11

DUKE’S TALK WITH HESS

Churchill To Report GERMANY’S PROPAGANDA FLOUNDERS

(British Official Wireless.)

(Received May 16, 7.5 p.m.) RUGBY, May 15. The Prime Minister, Mr. Churchill, announced in the House of Commons that he would take the first opportunity of giving authentic news regarding the Deputy-Fuehrer, Herr Hess, and the Duke of Hamilton, who at the request of the Government, has interviewed Hess. “But in the selection of the opportunity I shall be guided by the public interest,” Mr. Churchill added. It has been disclosed that the Duke of-Hamilton, fresh from his talks with Hess, flew to London to meet Mr. Duff Cooper, Minister of Information. He was accompanied by Mr. Kirkpatrick, the Foreign Official official who was sent to Scotland to verify the DeputyFuehrer’s identity. The Duke of Hamilton was able to tell Mr. Duff Cooper of the result of his interview with Hess, for which he was granted special leave from the R.A.F. This was tlip second time the Duke had flown to London. On the first 'occasion he saw the Prime Minister, and during this interview he told Mr. Churchill details of talks he had had with the DeputyFuehrer.

Questions were addressed to Mr. Churchill in the House of Common? regarding Hess and, replying to a question why the Minister of Information did not take steps to anticipate the German broadcast alleging that Hess was insane, Mr. Churchill said: “It may be as well that the Minister of Information did not do so, as the suggestion has since been refuted.” Replying to a further suggestion that it was unfortunate that 48 hours were allowed to elapse before the news was given and the Germans were thus allowed time to publish their version, Mr. Churchill said: “It was not unfortunate, but if it had been it would have been unavoidable. We had established that a man had Janded, but we only had evidence which, while it was most interesting. could not be considered conclusive. 1 immediately sent up an official who know the deputy Fuehrer and who spoke to him in good and fluent German. While that‘was proceeding, the German announcement came out of the insanity of Hess and his flight. By that time what had hitherto been surmised emerged into definite certainty.”

i German Anxiety. " The embarrassment and anxiety displayed in Germany over the sensational Hess episode has not been relieved by any further official statement here. It is known that in the military hospital where he is confined as an ordinary prisoner of war Hess, who is in excellent. spirits, has talked freely and that , records of' his observations have been conveyed to the authorities. J Meanwhile German propaganda is floundering hopelessly. In foreign eoun- • tries speculation regarding the now his- [ toric incident is rife. Even in the Axis countries there are indications that the story of mental derangement ■ is dismissed out of hand and in Japan 1 the newspaper “Asahi” remarks categorically that “in any case the Hess incident is taken to indicate the first crack in the German morale.” There is confirmation for this view

from the countries neighbouring on Germany, where, it is reported, perplexity and consternation prevail. These feelings have been aggravated rather than relieved by the wrigglings of the Nazi leaders as shown in the conflicting statements they have issued in the effort to extricate themselves from their embarrassing dilemma. Foreign Gossip. In certain foreign countries, Spain, for example, where the Press is friendly to the Axis, the absence of comment has not checked gossip and the whole escapade is proving a source of much entertainment. In Portugal the news- ; paper, “Voz,” strikes a cautious note ; and, while remarking that the Ger- I man explanations are being minutely examined for any improbabilities and Impossibilities, it observes that the facts are as yet insufficient on which to form judgment, adding that meanwhile it may be said that Britain has I gained a great political success. While all Europe is quietly amused

nt the German discomfiture a much more outspoken line is taken in the United States. The New York “Daily Mirror” says the example of Hess represents the ultimate ami inevitable cracking tip of tyranny. Observers in Stockholm point out that no mention has been made of the affair in German propagandist sheets which arc circulated daily throughout the country. Comment has been aroused by Hess choosing Scotland instead of Sweden as his destination, but the Stockholm newspaper “Tidingen” says that this does not disclose evidence of mental derangement. If Hess had something to tell the world Sweden would not provide a platform, since the first moment any newspaper whispered anything about the Deputy-Fuehrer it 1 would bo suppressed. British Attitude.

Tlie Associated Press learned from a high-placed official in London that the Government, regards Hess not only as a prisoner of war but in the same category as the Nazi criminals who were responsible for the bloodshed, suffering. and miser.v in Czechoslovakia, Poland, ami elsewhere. Hess is still kept isolated in a room at the military hospital. with an officer in attendance and guards nearby.

Zurich reports that Berlin officials told foreign newspaiiermen that the Luftwaffe is preparing for a bigger air raid than London has j'et suffered, as proof that Hitler does not share Hess’s idea about coming to peace terms with England. However, all neutral correspondents report ever-increasing- perplexity and bewilderment among the German population over Hess's flight, and this is said to be accentuated by many contradictory explanations circulated from Berlin. The allegation that Hess might be given drugs to make him talk is taken as au indication that the Wilhelmstrasse knows Hess is normal, although other Berlin authorities stick to the story that he is mentally unbalanced. The German news service announces I that Hitler does not propose to speak . to the German people in the near j future about lite flight of his Deputy I Fuehrer.

Berlin has denied reports that a house-to-house canvass is to be undertaken by the Nazis to reassure the people about the Hess affair, but officials admit that a few members of tlie party may have talked the matter over with their neighbours. CROATIAN CROWN Restoration Announced i Received May Hi. 9.01> p.m. > LONDON, May IG. Tile restoration of the Croatian crown is officially announced in Rome.

MYSTERY CLAIMED TO BE SOLVED German Radio Statement PEOPLE STILL WORRIED I ' LONDON, May 18. The German Propaganda Ministry is still trying hard to wriggle out of the difficult position into which it has drifted over the flight of Herr Hess. Tlie German radio has now announced that the flight of the Deputy Fuehrer has been completely unravelled, and describes it as a perfect tragedy. Hess did not. act from dishonourable motives, said the radio. Latest reports from the German capital indicate, however, thaj: the people are still very worried, and think of nothing else. The correspondent of a Spanish newspaper says the German Government is severely applying the laws regarding listening to foreign broadcasts, and has issued the names of I>eople found guilty as a warning to others. BEVIN’S BELIEF Hitler Behind Flight Of Hess LONDON, May 15. The motives which brought Hess to Britain are still occupying the attention of commentators all over rhe world. Some of the suggestions are that Hess escaped after a quarrel with Hitler or other Nazi leaders, that he was appalled by the horrors of the war and thought lie could patch up a peace of his own, and that Hitler sent him on some desperate peace mission. Mr. Ernest Bevin, British Minister of Labour and National Service, supports the view that Hitler is behind Hess’s flight to this country. Speaking today in London, he said: “I do not believe that Hitler did not know Hess intended coming here.” He declared that Hess was a man lie would not negotiate with, and added that they could understand his feelings when he told them that it was Hess who had collected every index card of the German trade unionists and German Social Democrats, whom, when the time came, he caused to be sent to concentration camps or murdered. Mr. Bevin said he had had to deal with these totalitarian gentlemen and Communists before, and lie was not going to lie deceived by any of them. 8.8. C. BROADCAST TO GERMANS Discussion Of Motive KUGBY, May 15. in one of the broadcasts today to Germany, a 8.8. C. speaker said:— “I want to discuss what Goebbels would like you to think about the Hess incident. Five days after Hess left Augsburg, Goebbels released his version. His experts have taken their time in dealing with the letters Hess left behind. I wonder if you find it as difficult as I do to believe that he flew to England out of mad sympathy for the British people. “We agree with the German propagandists that Hess wants peace for the German jieople. We agree that he possesses secret information, but is it not possible that his concern is for the German and not for the English people? Is it not possible that his secret information is about such matters as the Balkan casualties, the state )f Kiel and Hamburg, and the fate if Prien, Kretschner, and Sehepke (lost U-boat aces), and their unnamed colleagues. May lie not know more about America that some of his colleagues who have never been abroad? “I leave it to you to decide whether it was very sane concern for the German people or very mad sympathy for England that drove him to take this step. Perhaps, after all, we have found out why Goebbels is so anxious to prove that his comrade is mad. Hess must know a lot about the doctor ami his other colleagues. It was his job to do so. And now he is sitting talking freely and writing. It will be very dangerous for Goebbels and his colleagues if Hess is sane after all.”

i The 8.8. C. broadcast in German to- ; day a record of Hitler’s speech made on September 1, 1939, when he said: “.Should anything happen to me in the war, my first successor is party member Goering. (Applause.) Should anything happen to Goering, then my next successor is party member Hess. (Prolonged applause.) And if anything should happen to me, you will give to these two men exactly the same loyalty, fidelity, and dutj’ as you do to me.” (Fanatical applause.) LUCKY FLIGHT . Hess Alight Have Been Shot Down LONDON, May 15. Herr He>s was lucky not to have been shot down by two Hurricane pilots when lie was flying to Scotland on Saturday night, says the “Daily Express.” One of the pilots is a young New Zealander with .17 victories to ills credit, and the other is a squadron leader from Ireland, who has shot down 14 German planes. They spotted Hess's plane off the Scottish coast and reported it to headquarters. Hess's life was saved because the authorities disbelieved tlie pilots' report and decided that a German fighter plane could never be risked on a flight «<» far from its base