Mr. Hamilton asked Mr. Held what authority he had to part with the Papers to the German Minister, and Mr. Held said:
"It is not a war implement, but merely a safety device, and if Nuffield and the other Governments were willing to buy it, what harm is there in giving a present to the German Government secretly and still selling to the others?"
Mr. Hamilton accused Mr. Held of deceiving him, and told him that he would not be a party to such a mode of dealing.
On Dec. 21 Mr. Hamilton met Mr.
Held by appointment, and told him that he had been with the German Minister. He again asked him why he gave the papers to the German Minister, as that meant the end of the whole affair, Mr. Held replied: "Who the hell has squealed? "For mercy's sake keep cool about it, as it would ruin my business if it became known to the public that the poor honourable gentleman (meaning the German Minister) would be transferred out of the country, as it could be regarded as espionage."
He asked Mr. Hamilton to destroy all papers and letters he had had from him.
The affidavit alleged that Mr. Held was still engaged in negotiations regarding the patent.
Efforts to sell Invention Mr. Held, in a replying affidavit, denied that the terms of the agreement were as stated by Mr. Hamilton. He agreed to stand in with Mr. Hamilton, but no formal arranges ments of any kind were ever discussed between them.
For some time he endeavoured to exploit the invention, or procure a purchaser for it. Efforts to sel! the invention were made with representatives of the French, Belgian American, German, Italian, Czechoslovak and Eireann Governments, and with companies controlled by Lord Nuffield.
Mr. Held's affidavit continued that in spite of every effort it had not been found possible to procure a purchaser at any price. He denied that he had obstructed or hampered negotiations with Lord Nufeld's representatives.
At Mr. Hamilton's request he made an appointment with the German Minister. It was Mr. Hamilton who insisted on handing over the plans, and assured the Minister that there was nothing wrong in his inspecting the plans.
Mr. James Costelloe, for Mr. Held, said: "If the invention was valuable, would plaintiff have written on November 16 to the Duke of Windsor offering it to him for nothing, token of loyalty and devotion. asking him to offer it to the people of Britain your gift to the nation?"
Mr. Justice Johnson said there were no grounds for the application, which would be dismissed with costs.
He added:
"J regret exceedingly that the names of high personages like the Duke of Windsor, Lord Nuffield and the German Minister have bee troduced. It was entirely unrecessary and must give a certain amount of embarrassment."
Text read from the printed page and cleaned; old type leaves the occasional error.