FOUR-POINT PLAN

Wairarapa Times-Age, 15 May 1941, Page 6

FOUR-POINT PLAN

SUGGESTED BY STRASSER TOWARDS DEFEAT OF NAZIS. COMMENT ON HESS EPISODE. (By Telegraph—Press Association—Copyright) MONTREAL. May 13. Herr Otto Strasser, a founder of the Nazi Party who is now a refugee in Canada, expressing the belief in a special interview that the escape of Hess indicates that the German prmy chiefs and Goering are seeking to overthrow the Nazi Party, says that Goering was closer to the Prussian army and the great industrialists than anyone else. Hess, on the other hand, had always been Hitler's closest and most trusted friend. Strasser, who fled from Germany after his break with Hitler in 1931. declared that there was intense jealousy between Goering, Hitler. Hess. Goebbels and Himmler. Strassel - suggested a four-point plan for defeating Germany: (1) Anti-Hit-ler propaganda among the German prisoners of war; (2) organised propaganda directed to the German nationals in the United States and South America; (3) creation of an independent Free German Legion modelled on General de Gaulle's Free French plan; (4) creation of an authoritative German National Council of the leaders in exile, including the politicians Bruening. Previramus, Rauschmann, Solimann, Holtermann, the author Thomas Mann and himself. Strasser said he felt certain that Hitler would attempt an invasion of England even if it meant the destruction of the German army and signing his own death warrant. WITHOUT ENEMIES NAZI STATEMENT ON HESS RECALLED. (British Official Wireless.) (Received This Day, 10.5 Q a.m.) RUGBY, May 14. In view of the sudden discovery by the German authorities of mental disorders in Hess it is interesting to reveal that the German newspaper “Das Reich," in an article last Christmas. wrote: “Were Herr Hess not an irreproachable personality, were he self-willed, he would have many enemies. That he has none speaks for the fact that confidence is felt in his incorruptible judgment. That is the chief feeling of the nation towards the Fuehrer’s deputy—he inspires confidence. Despite his coolness ho exudes warmth.” REFUGEE’S STORY

HESS AND THE FUEHRER. IBy Telegraph—Press Association.) DUNEDIN, This Day. ■ A German refugee living in Dune- ■ din, who knew Hess, states that the ' latter was very poor after the last 1 war and lived with his fiancee’s father, : Herr Horn, this perhaps accounting for the name he is said to have given I when he landed in Scotland. With the i growth of the Nazi Party, Hess became ; a very rich man and built' a great 1 castle high in the mountains, stating 1 to Hitler his desire to live and die '<■ in such a peaceful scene, to which 1 Hitler replied: “No, my friend, you f and I are not destined to die like £ other men in. their beds. VZe cannot I tell how or when we'll die, but our t deaths won’t be peaceful.” > I The refugee also said that Hess and c not Goering coined the phrase “Guns I before butter.” c _ c

t HESS AS BAIT [ r BRITISH NEWS BULLETINS. I c INTEREST IN OCCUPIED i COUNTRIES. c c (Received This Day, 12.15 p.m.) I LONDON, May 14. 1 After a searching interrogation, Hess t may meet Mr Churchill, says the t “Daily Mail.” Hess is likely to leave i hospital within a few days. i News bulletins using Hess as “bait” c are being broadcast in German from c London every hour. The bulletins t emphasise the fact that Hess five c months ago promised the Germans peace in 1941 and that he went to England because he saw no hope of a German victory. The bulletins also point out that the extra petrol tank fitted to Hess’s plane proves that he must have had ready helpers in his escape. Frontier reports tell of great interest p in the occupied territories in the British broadcasts. Local residents pass on the British news to bewildered □ German garrisons. p ti v

MORE NAZI TALES MOTIVES OF THE ESCAPE. (EritislT Official Wireless.) (Received This Day, 12.3 p.m.) RUGBY, May 14. The German version of the Hess episode has undergone further modifications. The latest version of the incident declares that documents left by Hess have revealed the real motives for his escapade. He is now stated to have embarked on his flight with the intention of effecting a meeting with the Duke of Hamilton, the eminent' sportsman, with whom he made acquaintance during 1936 at the Olympic Games in Berlin, with the purpose of preparing the ground for a German-British understanding. In connection with this German news message, it can now be revealed that Hess had in fact attempted to communicate with the Duke by letter some months ago. The Dulce immediately placed the letter in the hands of the Security authorities and no reply was made to Hess. This newlyauthorised German version of Hess's intentions affords further circumstantial evidence that the escape was carefully premeditated. It is to bo remembered that Hess was leaving Germany under very extraordinary circumstances and admittedly contrary to authority. By so doing he was clearly running grave personal peril. It should therefore have been a perfectly understandable course for him s to leave behind letters which would i have pul an innocent construction on ? his action. In the German account it 1 is stated that Hess entertained the idea r

that he could return again to Germany after a short time, when he had fulfilled his mission of rapprochement. Even the German report characterises such an idea as absurd. As a prisoner of war he would have known that such liberty would be out of the question. Indeed, if any such idea had been entertained it would have indicated a certain lack of mental balance entirely contrary to the now established fact that Hess is sane. Meanwhile, Hess remains in hospital, where ho has had several interviews with a representative of the British Foreign Office, and reports of the conversations have been referred to the appropriate autnorities.