INTRIGUE IN EUROPE

Wairarapa Times-Age, 14 November 1939, Page 6

INTRIGUE IN EUROPE

LORD ROTHERMERE GIVES EVIDENCE RELATIONS WITH HITLER’S AIDE-DE-CAMP. ‘ CARRYING ON THE MUNICH SPIRIT.” By Telegraph—Press Association—Copyright (Received This Day. 10.30 a.m.) LONDON, November 13. Lord Rothermere, giving evidence, denied that he had paid Princess Stephanie for her silence. He said that between July, 1932, and January, 1938, he paid her ’ "considerably more than £51,G00." He was in touch with Hungarian magnates in 1932 who wanted to restore the Hapsburgs but could not afford a proper income for them, and lie offered to contribute £25,000 for five years. He emphasised that he advocated justice for Hungary entirely on his own initiative, because he thought that on the death of Hindenburg the whole of Central Europe might become a melting pot and that the restoration of the Hohenzollerns and the Hapsburgs was the only way to stabilise the position. Questioned regarding his relations with Hitler’s aide, Captain Wiedemann, Lord Rothermere stated that he had once thought Captain Wiedemann to be of the highest character, but changed his view in the autumn of 1938, when Wiedemann and the Princess improperly brought pressure on him to settle the action. Mr Beyfus read a cable Lord Rothermere sent to Wiedemann early in 1939 stating: “Everyone is aware that no conduct of yours is at any time capable of censure.” Lord Rothermere said: “The Prime Minister and others in London wanted the best possible terms with Germany. Therefore, I telegraphed Wiedemann in that strain, because I knew he had great influence and was able to carry on the Munich spirit.”