Hess landed in Scotland by parachute on May l0th, 1941 wearing uniform of a Captain in the German Air Force. He claimed to be on a special mission to see Wing Commander the Duke of Hami 2. The Duke of Hamilton had been to Berlin in 1936 in connection with the Olympic Games but had no recollection of having seen or met Hess. The Duke had previously received a letter dated September 23rd, 1940 from Dr. Haushofer, a German friend of Hess, suggesting a meeting in Lisbon without referring to Hess. The Duke had shown this letter to His Majesty's Government at the time. It was completely ignored and no reply was sent. 3. On May 11th the Duke was ordered by his superior officers in the Royal Air Force to see Hess, then under confinement in Maryhill Barracks, Glasgow. Hess claimed that Germany was bound to defeat England but that this was not Hitler's wish. Hess had therefore come to stop the unnecessary slaughter and to make peace proposals. He claimed to know Hitler's mind but did not claim to have come with his authority. He was evidently under the impression that a party existed in England ready to discuss peace proposals. The Duke replied that there was now only one party in Great Britain. 4. Hess was interviewed on May 13th, 14th and 15th by Mr. Kirkpatrick, formerly of His Majesty's Embassy at Berlin, to identify him and discover his ideas in greater detail. Hess informed Mr. Kirkpatrick that he had come without the knowledge of Hitler. He elaborated his views on the certainty of Germany's victory and repeated that Hitler had no designs against the British Empire. Hess proposed |