Britain Silent About Hess Story

Northern Advocate, 5 January 1946, Page 5

Britain Silent About Hess Story

(Rec. 11 a.m.) , LONDON, Jan. 4 Official circles have nothing to say regarding reports from Nuremberg, based on German State documents, alleging that important British circles conveyed a pence feeler to representatives of Hess in May, 1941, says the Press Association.

The reports, however, support statements which were current but unpublished in 1941, that unofficial moves were afoot to bring about a negotiated peace.

These moves were brought to the notice of the very highest authorities in Britain, who turned them down out of hand.

It was felt that the only way of dealing with reports of British “peace feelers” would be the publication of documents involved in the White Paper. The documents in the Hess case alone are so vast and complicated that the Government does not intend at the moment, to publish these details. WROTE TO DUKE Hitler’s geopolitician (Dr. Albrecht Haushofer) in September, 1940, wrote to the Duke of Hamilton at Hess’ request in an attempt to establish “contact.” This is admitted in a 1400-word report which Haushofer wrote to Hitler 48 hours before Hess took off for Scotland, and which is now in the possession of Allied intelligence officers. Haushofer's report attributes to a moderate group in England in April, 1941, a readiness to talk peace terms on the basis of: (1) Recognition of Britain’s paramount interest in Greece but only nominal interest elsewhere in Eastern and South-eastern Europe. (2) The restoration of the occupied Western European States. (3) The confinement of German colonial demands to former German territory and modification of the Italian demands. MESSAGE TO HESS

Allied intelligence officers also possess a message from Haushofer to Hess written in September, 1940, suggesting methods of getting information to the Duke of Hamilton.

There is not the slightest hint in either Haushofer's report to Hitler or his letter to Hess that the peace efforts were motivated by knowledge of the forthcoming German invasion of Russia.

Haushofer’s report, after warning Hitler that the English masses were waging the war with religious fanaticism, added:

“If there is an element in Britain eager for peace, it is the plutocracy, which is able to calculate when it will be destroyed, together with the native British tradition.” “REASONABLE” BRITONS

Haushofer lists “reasonable" Britons including “a leading group of younger Conservatives, of whom many are Scots.” and also two peers and three under-secretaries of State who. he claimed, were closely related to the Court through blood and marriage, and linked with older Conservatives, among whom he mentioned two loi’ds and one ambassador. Haushofer then listed the "so-called Round Table circle of younger Imperialists and Colonial Empire politicians.” Haushofer's report was his death warrant. The Gestapo recorded him as having “sympathetic feelings and contacts with the English.” He was executed last year for possible implication in the 1944 Hitler bomb plot and for engaging in secret peace negotiations.