CLOSE EXAMINATION

Manawatu Standard, Volume LXI, Issue 143, 19 May 1941, Page 7

CLOSE EXAMINATION

STATEMENTS BY HESS. INCIDENT NOT ENDED. (United Press Association—Copyright.) (Britisli Official Wireless.) (Rec. 12 noon) RUGBY, May 18. A full report of all the statements made by Hess since his landing by parachute in Scotland has been sent to Mr Churchill. The examination of Hess has been carried out. in German and a translntion prepared. The contents of the report are being kept a close secret. Everything rceorued is being carefully examined anil minutely enecked by intelligence officers to test the value and reliability of tiCM-j s statements. While the German radio, for its home audience, still keeps silence Dr. Goobbels appears at least to, have decided on tlio version of the affair that lie is going to hand out for foreign consumption This version, which contradicts Gocbbels’s previous accounts, ! yvas given in a talk by Dr. Gerhardt! Dohm to Portugal. Contradicting the original official communique on Hess, lie said: “Hess! is not a man of confused ideas; he is not a victim of hallucination; lie is a.; tanatical idealist wlio believed lie could • persuade England to make peace and prevent the t>reak-up of the British Empire and the elimination of tho English nation.” Dr. Dohm further denied that Hitler had appointed • Hess his successor in liis speech on September f, 1939. For ibis and other reasons it is clear i why the German radio dare not give j this account of the matter to their i home listeners.

Tho next point in Dr. Dohm’s talk is that the incident is now- closed.

“One cannot speak,” he said. “of any shook among the German people ; this is proved by the fact that the affair is no longer discussed.”

That, in fact, the German authorities know- the matter is by no means closed is shown b.v their attempts to discount in advance Hess’s statements. Thus a German commentator, speaking to South America, said : “We can expect sensational statements which the English radio will attribute to Hess, but you should all remember his status as a prisoner of war and that his declarations cannot be tested.” In fact, as the head of an organisation with agents cveryyvhere Hess kneyv more than anyone else of the condition of the Nazi party and, as Hitler’s confidant, he was bound to bo well acquainted with Germany’s plans.