FULL REPORT

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXXVIII, Issue 23969, 20 May 1941, Page 7

FULL REPORT

HESS' STATEMENTS SECRECY MAINTAINED MANY ARRESTS IN GERMANY LONDON, 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, says a British official wireless message. The examination of Hess has been carried out in German and a translation prepared. The contents of the report are being kept a close secret. Everything recorded is being carefully examined and minutely checked by intelligence officers to test the value and reliability of Hess' statements. The British Broadcasting Corporation, broadcasting to Germany, said there are widespread reports of an extensive purge of Germany and many arrests of associates of Hess, especially occultists. Frau Hess Arrested The Berlin correspondent of the Swedish newspaper Goteborg Posten reports that Frau Hess was arrested two days ago. A multitude of arrests followed Hess' flight, including hundreds in Berlin. The police are even arresting anyone caught discussing the Hess affair. 'J he correspondent adds that secret police are questioning Professor Messerschinitt about the aeroplane Hess used. While the German radio for its home audience still keeps silence, Goebbels appears at last to have decided on the version of the affair that he is going to hand out for foreign consumption. This version, which contradicts Goebbels' previous accounts, is given in a talk by Dr. Gerhardt Dohm, to Portugal. Earlier Version Scrapped Contradicting the original official communique on Hess, he said, "Hess is not a man of confused ideas. He is not a victim of hallucination. He is a fanatical idealist who believed that lie could persuade Britain to make peace and prevent the break-up of the British Empire and the elimination of the British nation." Dohm further denied that Hitler appointed Hess his successor in a speech on September 1, 1939. For this and other reasons it is clear why the German radio dare not give this account of the matter to its home listeners. The next point in Dohm's talk is that the incident is now closed. "One cannot speak.'' he said, "of any shock among the German people. This is proved bv the fact that the affair is no longer discussed." Knowledge of Plans That, in fact, the German authorities know the matter is by no means closed is shown by their attempts to discount in advance Hess' statements. Thus, a German commentator, speaking to South America, said, "We can ox poet sensational statements which the British 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 head of the organisation, with agents everywhere, Hess knew more than anyone else of the condition of the Nazi party, and as Hitler's confidant he is bound to be well acquainted with Germany's plans. As a result of Hess' flight Hitler has prohibited any travel by his entourage. This prohibition has prevented Goering from leaving on a hunting tour.

SON OF A JEWESS ( BERLIN RADIO CLAIM LONDON, May 17 German radio stations announced last night that Rudolf Hess was the son of a Jewess. Fran B. Hackmeier, an hotelkeeper, said that she knew Hess' parents in Cairo when the Deputy-Fuehrer was five yearS old. "Frau Hess ran a bar," said Frau Hackmeier. "She was a poor woman, with Rudolf and three daughters. Frau Hess was a Jewess. She told everybody so."

NEGOTIATED PEACE PARIS PRESS CAMPAIGN ORecd. 6.16 p.m.) LONDON, May 18 A section of the German-controlled Paris press has opened a concerted campaign urging President Roosevelt to mediate in order to end the war by a negotiated peace. The newspapers assert that the alternative is that the United States will be drawn into a long war.

CHANGES IN SPAIN SENOR SUNER'S POSITION (Reed. 7.10 p.m.) MADRID, May 19 Continuing his administrative changes General Franco has relieved of their duties the heads of the Spanish Press and Propaganda Departments. No new appointments have been announced. A Lisbon message says that Senor Suner, the Spanish Foreign Minister, submitted his resignation, but General Franco refused to accept it. According to an agency message, the Cabinet will be reorganised and Senor Suner will be given wider powers.

BLOCKADE RUNNERS MORE GERMAN SHIPS SAIL (Reed. 7.10 p.m.) NEW YORK, May l!> A message from Santiago, Chile, say the Erlangon, iifth Gorman .ship to leave Chilean ports in the week-end, sailed for nil unknown destination with a cargo of coal and cereals. The Khakotis sailed from Antofagasta and the Frankfurt from Conceptcion. These, with the Quito and Bogota, already reported to have left Coqnimbo, are apparently making an effort to run the British blockade. The Erlatigen, a Norddeutscher Lloyd vessel of 6101 tons, visited Auckland several times before the war. MARSEILLES EXPLOSION (Kml. (5.1 ft p.m.) LONDON, May IS The Lyons radio announced that a large bomb exploded in .Marseilles last night causing considerable but unspecified damage to buildings. The Berlin radio declared that a time bomb exploded in a Marseilles synagogue,