HUDSON PEACE PLAN

Gisborne Herald, Volume LXVI, Issue 20013, 11 August 1939, Page 8

HUDSON PEACE PLAN

MYSTERY IN LONDON CHAMBERLAIN’S ANXIETY LONDON, July 27. The denials by the Prime Minister, Mr. Neville Chamberlain, in the House of Commons regarding what has become known as the Hudson Plan have turned a short-lived sensation into- something of a mystery. The plan relates to the proposals made by the Secretary of the Department of Overseas Trade, Mr. R. S. Hudson, in a , conversation with Dr. Wohltat, Field-Marshal Goering’s economic adviser, under which Germany, subject to certain conditions, would Receive a huge loan. There is a- mystery because it is not fully understood 1 why Mr. Chamberlain expressed himself as so anxious to know who disclosed the conversations, which, lie said, were quite informal.

Tried Out Earlier There is a rumour suggesting that one explanation of Mr. Chamberlain’s anxiety about the disclosure is that the whole story emanated from Dr. Wohltat himself, with no other basis than the mere fact of the interview, and that German agents spread it round foreign capitals. It is pointed out that before a word was published in any newspaper, diplomatic correspondents were told various versions ,of the story by officials of three Embassies. It is stated, on the other hand, that during fast week the plan- was tried out among some leading British politicians, but was not received enthusiastically. Propaganda leading up to the announcement of some such plan was submitted to most London newspapers, but it was rejected until the scheme was given prominence in the Daily Telegraph and the News Chronicle. Mr. A. J. Cummings, the commentator of. the News Chronicle, says that it is known in London that the substance of the “plan” has been discussed in the United States for weeks, as a likely development in British diplomacy. Deplored in Poland

Polish opinion deplores the effects on Poland of the informal talks between Mr. Hudson -and. Dr. Wohltat. It is felt that suggestions for a loan, to Germany, under certain, conditions," such as were made to Dr. Wohltat, even privately, display a deplorable Lack of understanding of the German character, and will inevitably create in Berlin an impression of British weakness. Although it is assumed that the episode is closed for the time being, there is still persistent comment which indicates that a deep impression has been made by the 'temporary scare of new appeasement.