MISSION OF HESS

Nelson Evening Mail, Volume 76, 25 October 1941, Page 5

MISSION OF HESS

SINGLE-FRONT WAR CHURCHILL REFUSES PEACE OFFER INTENTION OK ATTACKING SOVIICT RKVKALEI) ( I.AIM BY AMERICAN JOURNALIST Now York, Oct. 2d. A claim that Rudolf Hess came to England to conclude a separate peace so that Germany could concentrate all her forces in the attack on Russia was made bv Louis Fischer (author and journalist who since 1922 has specialised in Soviet and European affairs), writing in the New York “Nation.” Mr Fischer, who returned recently from a visit to England, said: “When Hess landed in Scotland he demanded to see Midi urchi 11 or Mr Eden. For a fortnight he declined to talk to anyone else, but finally he became convinced that it was useless demanding an interview with Mr Churchill or Mr Eden, and he broke down and talked. "In the third week of his confinement Hons revealed that he came to conclude a separate peace between England and Germany, but steadfastly refused to say whether with Hitler’s consent or knowledge. Hess said that Gcrn any was about to attack the Soviet Union, and Moscow was immediately informed, three weeks before Hitler declared war on the Soviet. "Hess proposed that Britain and Germany should cease fighting, because Germany wished to concentrate all her forces against Russia, which was the real enemy of Europe. Germany would guarantee the British Isles and the British Empire. Germany had no designs on British territory, Hess assured the British Foreign Office official. Mr 1< irkpatrick. “Hess also said that if Germany had t fight Russia and England a total conquest of Russia would take a year, but if England made peace or. still better. helped Germany, Russia could be smashed in three months. That is where Hess revealed the weakness of Lis entire position, and that is why Mr Churchill did not fur a moment think of accepting the offer. POSTPONING NAZI SWIM "What would Hiller do if England withdrew from the war and allowed Russia to be crushed? He would defeat Russia and then turn on England in accordance with his celebrated strategy of knocking out his enemies one by "Everything Hess said in prison showed that Hitler is still his demi-god hero and Nazi Germany his supreme love." Mr Fischer concludes his article: "I l ave brought back the clearest impression from England that the British people will not flinch. No matter what happens in Russia, no matter what America does or does not d<>. the Brit- > h are determined to go on to the end.” U.P.A. A British journalist's recent report ..n Hess—"still an unrepentant Nazi"— claimed that he was “in a rural retreat many miles from the ducal mansion \ here he recuperated from the injuries eceived in his historic parachute jump,” and added: "During his stay in the Scottish castle. Hess disturbed the ducal calm somewhat by insisting that lie was on a special mission and demanding to sec important personages. "There was one person he expressed •i strong desire to avoid, however— Winston Churchill. He fumed at the fact that he was being kept prisoner. He acted as one who had blind faith in his mission, whatever it was.” Hess was said to have fully recovered liom his injuries and to be doing a bit jf reading in his new home. He “never omits the Nazi salute and still clicks his heels in the Prussian manner and growls Tied Hitler.’ "