Prof. Arthur P. Laurie, revealing he had received a “lump sum” from a Berlin publisher for a book entitled “The Case for German,” tonight denied Home Secretary Sir Samuel Hoare’s charge in Parliament last week that the Anglo-German Amity Association known as the Link is a tool of Nazi propaganda.
Prof. Laurie, 77, prominent chemist and former principal of Watt-Heriot College, Edinburgh, is a member of the Council of the Link, whose activities elicited the following statement from Sir Samuel in the House of Commons last Thursday:
“The professed object of this organization is to promote understanding between England and Germany, but it does nothing to enable the Germans to understand the English view, and devotes itself to expressing the German viewpoints. The information I have shows that the organization is being used as an instrument of the German propaganda service and that money has been received from Germany by one of the active organizers.”
Prof. Laurie, discussing the latter charge with newspapermen, said “I cannot imagine that Sir Samuel Hoare was referring to me in his accusation. “After working on his new book for two years, the professor explained, he offered it to London publishers, “but they said they would not publish a book favorable to Germany.”
“On the suggestion of a friend,” he went on, “I offered it to the International Publishing Co. in Berlin. They said they would publish it and they did so, and I have been paid a lump sum for it. Copies are being distributed to certain people and the book will be on sale in shops in this country. It is a two years’ study of the Nazi system, which I examined at first hand, and describes the good side of the Nazi organization.”
The Link’s only paid employee is a typist, and all other work done by the organization is voluntary, Professor Laurie said. “If any member gets money from Germany,” he continued, “it cannot be for the work he does for the Link. We have no reason to suspect anything of the kind.”
Prof. Laurie and Admiral Sir Barry Domville, chairman of the Link, were among those who attended a session of the organization’s Council tonight. After the meeting newspapermen were given to understand the Link would press the Home Secretary either to furnish proof of his accusations or withdraw them. The Council issued a formal declaration flatly denying Sir Samuel’s statement, branding it “inaccurate and unreliable” and “a travesty of the facts.”
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