Evening star., 1941-05-15


that he can bring about q negott-
ated peace Uith England. British
speculation on Hess purpose has
been confused and unclartfed by
any official disclosures.
BY the Associated Press.
LONDON, May 15.-Rudolf
Hess strange flight to Scotland
was with the full knowledge of
his Fuehrer, Labor Minister Err
nest Bevin said today, and a
placed American declared
that, whatever the purpose, it is
a threat to the British.
Prime Minister Churchill delayed
q full statement, but denied that a
peace with Scotland was
one of the illusory purposes Hess
might have had in his Saturday
night descent on a Scottish moor to
seek out Scottish nobleman, the
Duke of Hamilton.
The American, who preferred to
keep his anonymity in the issue
because of its domestic reverbera-
tions, declared Hess was either the
whiting or unwilling harbinger of
new blows by the German military
machine.
AS if to accent his warning, 1t
was officially announced from Cairo
today that the German Luftwaffe
was moving into Iraq, using bases
in the French mandate of Syria
as way stations.
From my point of view," said
Labor Minister Bevin, making
known views, Herr Hess is a muir
derer." He spoke before the Holborn
Chamber of Commerce.
Won't Be Deceived"
He added that he was not going
to be deceived" by what he called
a stunt which had been tried over
and over again "by totaitarian gen.
tlemen and Communists.
Hess, he said. is mo man would
ever negotiate with and II do not
believe that Hitler did not know
Hess was coming to England"
YOU can understand my feeling
about Hess when I tell you he was
the man who collected an index card
on every trade union leader in Ger
many and the Social Democrats and,
when the time came, they were
either sent to concentration camps
or murdered.
81 agree that any one who har-
bors such fantasies about England
is silly. Over here we should call
the people who believe DR.. Goebbels
fools
Il wonder if you find it as diff
cult as I do to believe that he flew
to England out of mad sympathy
for the British people? We agree
with German propagandists that
Hess wants peace for the German
people. We agree that he possesses
secret information.
Concern Is for Germans.
"But is it not possible that his
concern is for the German and not
for the British people?
"Is it not possible that his secret
information is about such matters
as Balkan casualties, the state of
Kiel and Hamburg and the fate of
Prien. Retschmer and Schepke and
their unnamed colleagues?
May he know more about Amer
lea than some of his colleagues who
have never been abroad?
Il leave it to you to decide whether
it was very sane concern for the
German people or very mad sym
pathy for the English that drove
him to take this step.
Hess must know a lot about DR.
Goebbels and his other colleagues
1t is his job to DO so. And now he is
sitting talking freely and writing.
ut will be very dangerous for DR..
Goebbels and his colleagues If Rudolf
Hess Is sane after ALL"
Bevin's reference to "Prien,
Retschmer, Schepke and their un-
named colleagues" was of Nazi SUBJ
marine commanders who have been
lost or captured in the sea war.
Mr.. Bevin made it plain In his
speech that he was speaking his own
personal opinion independent of
any government expression.
Glasgow residents said Hess had
told several individuals with whom
he talked that there was great dis
tress among the people of many
German towns because of bombing
by the British air force and that
he was weary of war.
Reference to Scotland.
The reference to Scotland came
in a question to Mr.. Churchill in the
House of Commons by the Scotch
Labor member, Arthur Woodburn.
''Is there any truth in the infer.
ence suggested by the German wire.
less that the intelligence depart
ment has created the impression ir
Germany that Scotland is ready tc
make a separate peace with Ger
many?" he asked.
Whatever delusicns may exist
that is not among them," Mr.
Churchill answered.
Explaining the delay of 48 hours
in making the first British an
nouncement of Hess coming, Mr.,
Churchill said "it (the delay cer-
tainly was not unfortunate, but If
it had been unfortunate it would
have been unavoidable.
He did not believe the story him
self when he first heard it, he said,
and conclusive identification had to
be established in the face of the
surprising character of the in
formation"
Mr.. Churchill told Commons that
he would report fully at the first
(see HESS, Page A-40