DUKE'S ACTIONS

Evening Post, Volume CXXXI, Issue 120, 23 May 1941, Page 8

DUKE'S ACTIONS

INTERVIEW WITH HESS

HONOURABLE AND PROPER

REPORT TO PREMIER

(Rec. 1 p.m.)

RUGBY, May 22,

Speaking in the House of Commons, the Secretary of Air Sir Archibald Sinclair, said:—

"When Herr Hess came down with his aeroplane in Scotland on May 10 he gave a false name and asked to see the Duke of Hamilton. The Duke, on being apprised by the authorities, visited Hess in hospital. Hess then revealed for the first time his true identity, saying that he had seen the Duke when he was at the Olympic Games at Berlin in 1936. The Duke did not recognise the prisoner, and had never met Hess. He had. however, visited Germany for the Olympic' Games in 1936, and during that time he had attended more than one large public function at which German Ministers were present. It is therefore quite possible that Hess may have seen him on one such occasion,

"As soon as the interview was over, the Duke of Hamilton flew to England and gave a full report of what passed to Mr. Churchill, who sent for him Contrary to reports which have appeared, the Duke has never been in correspondence with Hess. None of the Duke's three brothers, who, like himself, are serving in the Royal Air Force, has either met Hess or had correspondence with him.

"It will be seen that the conduct of the Duke of Hamilton has been in every respect honourable and proper." —8.0. W.

MORE CONFUSION

(Rec. 2 p.m.) LONDON, May 22,

Sir Archibald Sinclair's statement that no letter from Hess reached the Duke of Hamilton or any responsible authority has further mystified the public.

The Associated Press understands from a very high authority that Hess wrote to the Duke of Hamilton and that the authorities intercepted the letter, which later was shown to the Duke.

Sir Archibald adds further to the confusion by not explaining why no earlier contradiction was made of widespread reports that the Duke of Hamilton personally knew Hess. — U.P.A.