DUKE OF HAMILTON

Wairarapa Times-Age, 23 May 1941, Page 6

DUKE OF HAMILTON

WITHOUT KNOWLEDGE OF HESS HAD NEVER CORRESPONDED WITH HIM. STATEMENT BY’ BRITISH AIR MINISTER. (British Official Wireless.) (Received This Day. 11.55 a.m.) RUGBY, May 22. The Air Minister (Sir Archibald Sinclair) in a statement in the House of Commons, said: "When Rudolf 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, being apprised by the authorities, visited Hess in hospital. Hess then revealed for the first time his true identity, saying he had seen the Duke when the latter 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 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 oyer, the Duke of Hamilton flew to England and gave a full report of what had passed to Mr Churchill, who sent for him. “Contrary to reports which have appeared, the Duke had never been in correspondence with Hess. None of the Duke’s three brothers, who. like himself, are serving in the R.A.F.. has either met Hess or had any correspondence with him. It will be seen that the conduct of the Duke of Hamilton has been in every respect honourable and proper." BELATED DENIAL SOME PUBLIC MYSTIFICATION IN BRITAIN. (Received This Day, 1.20 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 the highest authority, that Hess) wrote to the Duke of Hamilton, but the authorities intercepted the letter, which later was shown to the Duke of Hamilton. Sir Archibald Sinclair further adds to the confusion by not explaining why there was no earlier contradiction of widespread reports that the Duke of Hamilton personally knew Hess.