GERMAN PEACE TERMS

Grey River Argus, 24 September 1943, Page 5

GERMAN PEACE TERMS

WHAT HESS PROPOSED. RUGBY, September 22. The “peace terms” whicn Rudolph Hess offered on behalf of Hitler, when he landed in Scotland on May 10, 1941, have now been disclosed, in an authoritative statement in London. The solution Hess put forward was as follows: —Firstly, Germany should be given a free hand in Europe. Sec- | nr England should have a free hand in the British Empire, except tn P ex-German colonies were to be returned. Thirdly, Russia should be included in Asia, but Germany had certain demands to make on Russia, which would have to be satisfied, either bv negotiation, or as the result of the war. There is no truth in the rumours that the Fuehrer contemplated an early attack on Russia. Fourtnly, the British should evacuate Iraq. Fifthly, reciprocal indemnification of British and German nationals, whose property was expropriated as the result of war. Sixthly, the proposal could be only considered on the understanding it was negoiated by Germany with a Government other than the present British Government. Mr. Churchill, who planned the war since 1936, and his colleagues who lent themselves to his war policy, were not the persons, with whom the Fuehrer would negotiate. Hess concluded by emphasising that the Fuehrer reallv wanted peace and understanding with Britain _ on the basis which preserved the British Empire intact. His flight w’as intended tq give Britain a chance of opening conversations without loss of prestige. If the chance were rejected, it would be the Fuehrer’s duty to destroy Britain utterly, and keep the country after the war in permanent subjection. The terms wer e re-stated by Hess in a signed document on June 10. The only new point was the _ provision that a simultaneous armistice and peace must be concluded with Italy. It was throughout made clear to Hess that there was no question whatever of any talks or negotiations of any kind taking place with Hitler Or his Government. Hess has been dealt with as a prisoner of war since his arrival, and will so continue to be treated until th e end of the war. PEACE MAY COME UNEXPECTEDLY. LONDON, Sept. 22. A message from Boston says the belief that the end of the war will come as unexpectedly as other crises have com? was exiiressed bv the Duke of Windsor at a Press conference. The Duke recalled that in the first World War Marshal Petain declared the Allies could not strike a decisive blow against Germany until 1919, whereas Germany collapsed in 1918. , ' „ The Duke of Windsor endorsed Mr. Churchill’s proposals for BritishAmerican co-operation after the war, and said the wartime exchange of military personnel would go _ far to eliminate British and American misunderstandings. U.S.A. NO LONGER ISOLATIONIST ? WASHINGTON, Sept. 21. The House of Representatives, by three hundred votes to 29, approved of Representative Fulbright’s resolution: “That Congress hereby expresses itself as favouring the creation of appropriate international machinery with power adequate to establish and to maintain a just, lasting peace among the nations of the world, and as favouring participation by the United States in it through its constitutional processes.” The Associated Press of America described the House’s resolution as “a historic stand on foreign policy.” Twenty-six Republicans and three Democrats voted against the resolution. Ji One New York newspaper, the “P.M.,” said: “Many of the votes were cast reluctantly by Representatives who still think in isolationist terms, but nublic opinion is so strong that thev felt compelled to vote for the measure.” . L i ijHIS]