The Waterbury Democrat., 1941-05-13
war policy and to escape responsi- bility for 1t.
 No Mental Defect

war polcy ana 70 eSChpe reSpotlSl- bility for 1t.
 No Mental Defect
 The weight of evidence appeared to be mounting heavily against the first official Nazi propaganda thesis that Hess was unbalanced mentally Only l3 days ago Hess made on important address at Augsburg starting point of his flight to Scot. land Only week ago Sunday he appeared on the Kroll Opera house platform with Hitler. He had long been regarded by persons who knew him in Germany as possessing one of the soundeSt minds among the Nazi party leaders.
 Ills feat in successfully navigating his airplane to Britain from South Germany also initiated against the insanity thesis increasing the like- lihood that this story was designed by Nazi propaganda chiefs to dis credit the propaganda value of Hess to the British cause.
 The possibility that Hess was en- gagged in Q daring peace" mission of some sort--possibly to contact some Briton still clinging to the banner of appeasement - seemed far-fetched. But 1t was admitted that almost every aspect of the af- fair was touched with unreality.
 Conference Held
 Over the weekend Hitler and Foreign Minister Joachim von Rib. bentrop conferred with Vice Premier Admiral Jean Francois Darlan ,ob- viousiy concerning Frances place in the new European order. There have been many rufnors of pos- sible meeting between Hitler and Josef Stalin and some indications that Russia may now be prepared to go some distance in cooperating In the new order"
 If Germany is on the verge of announcing the complete organiza- ton of Europe under her domina- ton, the motive for . daring visit by Hess to contact some peace- minded individual or group in Brit ain would be fairly obvious.
 There were indications that Ber- lin, after first adopting & propa- ganda line designed to discredit Hess, had had sudden second thought and now was prepared tc give cautious support to the peace mission" theory.
 May Be Such People
 That there may be individuals ir Britain who would be receptive tt such negotiations might be assumed although obviously any such deal. ings would be without the knowl. edge of Prime Minister Winston Churchill and his government ant would be regarded by them a' treason.
 Against the peace mission" the ory, however, are several inajol contradictory facts. There woule appear to be no reason. If this werl Hess mission. why he flew alone II & three man Messerschmitt-1il plane which he could hardly expec to fly back to Germany.
 A far simpler way to landing { Nazi envoy of this type in Britain would be from 6 bomber plan, which could later return to picl up the envoy and spirit him out O the country. Such an operation would be daring but not impossible Use of the Messerschmitt, however made 1t almost certain from tn, start that Hess would never be abl, to return by the means by whicl he arrived. The plane could carr, barely enough gasoline for a one were not loaded, thus making Hes way flight and It's machine gum a pot-shot victim for any British fighter plane he might encounter
 No Peace Mission
 The British said fiatly that Hes! did not come to Britain on any peace mission and that he brought no peace proposal.
 While 1t was not so stated offl. cially, correspondents were allowed to transmit through the censorship detailed speculation concerning thu possibility that Hess had quarrellet with Hitler, fled for his life anc that there were indications of ( severe and deep split within tht Nazi leadership.
 Following this line of speculation 1t was suggested that the estrangec Hess might place his obviously vas and intimate knowledge of German secrets and military plans at thu disposal of the British.
 Should this British speculation prove correct London obviously nov has in it's hands weapon which can be used against Berlin witt effectiveness which hardly can ye be calculated.
 Hess Can Talk As the No. 3 man in Germany, 1 seemed plain enough that Hess car If he wishes-tell the British al most anything they could wish [, know about Hitler's plans and am bitions as we'll as intimate detail oi German morale. production an, other vital war facts.
 Whatever the actual reason fo