TALKS WITH HESS

Manawatu Standard, Volume LXI, Issue 142, 17 May 1941, Page 7

TALKS WITH HESS

DUKE’S INTERVIEWS. REPORT TO MINISTERS. (United Press Association. —Copyright) (British Official Wireless.) RUGBY, May' 16. It has been disclosed that the Duke of Hamilton, fresh from his talk with Hess, flew to London to meet Mr Duff Cooper, Minister of Information. He was accompanied by Mr Kirkpatrick, (be Foreign Office official wbo was sent to Scotland to verify the Deputy-Fuehrer’s identity. The Duke of Hamilton was able to tell Mr Duff Cooper ol the result of Ins interview with Hess, Jor which lie was granted special leave from the R.A.F. .1 his was the second time the Duke had flown to London. On the first occasion lie saw the Prime Minister, and during this interview he told Mr Churchill details ol talks he had had with the Deputy-Fuehrer.

The embarrassment and anxiety played in Germany over the sensational Hess episode uas 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 i floundering hopelessly. In foreign | countries speculation regarding the now historic incident is rile. Even in the Axis countries there are indications that the story ol mental derangement is dismissed out ol hand and in I Japan the newspaper Asahi remarks j categorically that “in any case the 1 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, per s plexity and consternation prevail, j These feelings have been aggravated rather than relieved by the wrigglings ; ol the Nazi leaders as shown in the ; conflicting statements they have issued i in the effort to extricate themselves I from their embarrassing dilemma. The 8.8. C. broadcast in German to-day a record ol Hitler’s speech made on September 1. 10311, 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 duty as you do to me.” (Fanatical applause.) “TYRANNY CRACKING UP.”

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 newspaper Yoz strikes a cautious note and. while remarking that the German 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 gained a great political success. While all Europe is quietly amused at 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 and inevitable cracking up of tyranny. Observers in Stockholm point out that no mention has been made of the affair in German propagandist sheets which are circulated daily throughout the country. Comment lias been aroused by Hess choosing Scotland instead of Sweden as his destination, but the Stockholm newspaper Tidingen says that this docs 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 would be suppressed.

The GeTman news service announces that Hitler does not propose to speak to the German people in the near future about the flight ot his DeputyFuehrer.

GERMANS WORRIED. LONDON, May ]G.

i The German Propaganda Ministry is still trying hard to wriggle out of I the difficult position into which it has dritted over the flight ot Herr Hess. 1 The German radio has now announced that the flight ot tlie Deputy Fuehrer has been completely unrav- ! oiled, and describes it as a perfect tragedy. Hess did not act from dishonest motives, said the radio.

' Latest reports from the German , capital indicate, however, that the people are still very worried, and think of nothing else. The correspondent of a Spanish i newspaper says the German Government is severely applying ihe laws | regarding listening lo foreign broad- ! easts, and has issued the names oi ; people found guilty as a warning to others.

GOEBBELS DESPONDENT. In a radio address to German seamen over the world, at a function which was attended by seamen’s wives. Dr Goebbels made a remarkable speech j which was full of despondency. “1 ! know of innumerable Germans who have been separated from their wives j and families in our country, and who sometimes ask in these difficult weeks j the trying question whether the great sacrifice the people are making and must make is worth while. / “Let tire say that a German victory | is composed of thousands and millions iof small sacrifices. In 1918 the Gerj man people attempted to shirk the decisive hour, and when we remember I this our sacrifices. which are sometimes heavy for the people and the I Fuehrer, will be the lighter. “Because I am a resident of a town which has not been spared by the British bombing I know that the people in such towns have to make a much heavier sacrifice than the people of the towns that arc not threatened from the air. If it is now more difficult to live in such towns, it will he much | more honourable- after the war to live I in them.” PLAIN SPEAKING.

The motives which brought Hess to Britain are still occupying the attention of commentators' all over the 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 he could patcli up a peace of his own, and that Hitler sent him on some desperate peace mission.

Mr Ernest Bovin. British Minister of Labour and National Service, supports the view that Hitler is behind Hess’s flight to this country. Speaking to-day in London, he said: “I do not believe that Hitler did not know Hess intended coming here.” He declared that Hess was a man he 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 the German trade unionists

and Gorman Social Democrats, whom, when the time came, he caused to be sent to concentration camps or murdered. Air Bevin said he had had +o deal with these totalitarian gentlemen and Communists before, and he was not going to be deceived by any of them.