STRANGE CAREER

Ashburton Guardian, Volume 56, Issue 190, 25 May 1936, Page 5

STRANGE CAREER

“THREE PERSONALITIES.”

COLONEL LOPE'Z’ CONFESS-lON.

ZINOVIEFF LETTER RECALLED.

(United Press Associationwoopyright.) ‘ LONDON, May 23.

“I have three personalities, but I am only one man,” said Henry Lawrence, in making a full confession of his activities to the "News-Cln'onicle.” Lewrence, also known as Colonel Pedro Lopez and Henry Lawrence Bernstein, is the man who, according to the statement of the Foreign Minister (Mr R. A. Eden), in the House of Commons, fabricated false evidence about the sup. ply of dum-dum bullets to Abyssinia. In the early hours of the morning Lawrence stood in a. half-open doorway, clad only in a white nightshiirt. He glanced frequently along the deserted street as if afraid of what lurked there. His forehead was covered with, perspiration in spite of the chill air.

A woman’s voice from the darkness screamed: “Tell them the authorities have sworn you to- secrecy.” A hectic cross-examination, however, broke down his reserve, and the cpnfession poured out tumultuously. “I was Mezler and Lopez,” he said. ”What I did about dum—dum bullets was done from purely patriotic motives, not from personal gain or greed. The authorities know everything. Time will reveal that I am the most patriotic man in the country. My idea in obtaining dum-dum bullets was to compare them with others, in order to reveal that those found in Abyssinia were not British. The War Oflice authorities are satisfied with my explanation s. ’ ’ The reporter suggested that Lawrence might be charged with treason. He laughed nervously and declared: “The authorities would not have returned by passport if they contemplated arr-esting me.” He went on hotly to repudiate that he was ever connected with the Zinovieff letter, adding: “1 have not seen Mr MacDonald except in the pictures.”

Wife’s Story. His wife, a young blonde, grey—eyed woman, full of charm but utterly weary, took up the story. She said the strain was frightful. She had not slept for four nights. Her husband was always a patriot. He went to South Africa. at an early age, and was always ready for adventure. He was imprisoned for participation in the Jameson raid, but when the Boer \Var broke out he immediately joined the colours. He was awarded two medals. After the Boer "War he twice visited South America as the representative of a, big mining firm, and learnt Spanish, which is the only foreign language he speaks. She said her husband had had a most adventurous career, but has not finan~ cially benefited. “We were married ’2O years ago,” she said. “We have never had any money. We opened a shop in Bournemouth in 1933, but lost money.” Her husband learned a great deal about weapons while employed by big British armament manufacturers. All through the episode of the dum-dum bullets he worked in the closest conjunction with the Italian Embassy, which employer] him. Before taking the job he wrote to the British Government saying that if he found that the Italians were working against Britain {he would let them know. She added that the Italian Embassy assured him that the work would have no bad effects on Britain. but let him down in every way, and had not paid him a penny, except expenses. “The trouble with us is that he is too trusting,” she concluded, The “News-Chronicle” learns that Lawrence’s interview with Bate and Company, at which he purchased the dumedum bullets, was not the first visit to the firm. Mr Rawlings, the managing director, stated: “Lawrence first came to me toward the end of the Gran C'haco war. He said he Was concerned in the purchase of rifles.” A

Previous Activities. The “News-Chronicle” also understands that Lawrence was first known in London in 1918. He: joined revolutionary organisations, and gained the confidenée of Left politicians. He offered Mr W. F. Watson (president of the London \Vorkers’ Committee) £SO to get 250,000 seditious leaflets printed. Mr \Vatson refused. The “Daily Herald” understands that the episode is merely an incident in a vast Italian underground propaganda campaign against Britain, cover—ing every section of the Empire. The “Daily Mail” says that Law; rence’s parents were Polish. He be—came a secret service agent in 1919 at Constantinople, when he was suspected of being in touch with the Communist Internationale. O‘rloff, head of the Denikins secret service, swore to kill him. Lawrence escaped in a fishing boat from Odessa. The British authorities recognised him when he went to Mr Ramsay MacDonald offering, for a specified sum, to produce the author of the Zinovic-v letter.

The “Daily Herald” says the Foreign Office has informed the Italian Embassy that its methods are under scrutiny, and will be exposed in the event of further trouble.