SPY REVELATION.

Auckland Star, Volume LXVII, Issue 122, 25 May 1936, Page 7

SPY REVELATION.

FULL CONFESSION.

Italians' Agent With Three Personalities. DUMDUM BULLETS STORY. United Press Association.—Copyright. LONDON, May 24. The Italian agent Lopez—now generally referred to as Henry Lawrence —who originated the allegations against British firms of supplying dumdum bullets to the Abyssinians, made a full confession of his activities yesterday to a representative of the "News Chronicle." "I have three personalities, but am only one man," said Lawrence, flinging wide his arms to accentuate his words. ■The interview took place in the early hours of the morning. Lawrence stood at a half-open doorway clad only in white night attire. He glanced frequently at the deserted street as if he were afraid of what lurked there. His forehead was covered with perspiration in spite of the chilly atmosphere. A woman's voice from the darkness of the house screamed: "Tell them the authorities have sworn you to secrecy." A hectic cross-examination, however, broke down Lawrence's reserve and his confession was poured out tumultuously as though he were relieving himself of a burden. "I was Mezler, and 1 was Lopez," said Lawrence. "What I did in connection with dumdum bullets was done from purely patriotic motives, not from motives of 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 samples of dumdum bullets was to compare them with others in order to reveal that those found in Abyssinia were not British. The War Office authorities were satisfied with my explanations." The interviewer suggested that Lawrence might be charged with treason. He laughed nervously and said: "The authorities would not have returned my passport if they contemplated having me arrested." Lawrence went on hotly to repudiate the suggestion that he was ever connected with the Zinovieff letter. He said he had not seen Mr. Mac Donald, except in pictures. "Husband Always a Patriot," Says Wife. At this stage Lawrence's wife took up the story. She was a blonde, greyeyed woman, full of charm, but utterly weary. She said the strain was frightful. She had not slept for four nights. Her husband always was a patriot. He went to South Africa at an early age and always was ready for any adventure. Mrs. Lawrence said her husband Ayas imprisoned as the result of his participation in the Jamieson raid, but when the Boer War broke out he immediately joined the colours. He was awarded two medals after the Avar. Twice he visited South America as the representative of a big mining firm. He learnt Spanish, which was the only foreign language he spoke. "My husband has had a most adventurous career," said Mrs. Lawrence, "but has not benefited financially. We have been married 20 years, but have never had any money. We opened a shop at Bournemouth in 1933, but we lost money. My husband learned a great deal about weapons while he was employed by big British armament manufacturers. "All through the episode of the dumdum bullets my husband worked in very close conjunction with the Italian Embassy which employed him," continued Mrs. Lawrence. "Before he took

the job lie wrote to the British Government saying that if he found the Italians were working against Britain he would let them know." "Let Down" by Italian Embassy. The wife added that the Italian Embassy had assured iJer husband his work would have no bad effects on Britain. But it had "let him down" in every way and had not paid him a penny except for expenses. The trouble was that he was too trusting. The "News Chronicle" saj's it learns that Lawrence's interview with Messrs. Bate and Company, when he purchased the dumdum bullets, was not his first visit to the firm. Mr. Rawlings, managing director, stated that Lawrence first came to see him toward the end of the Gran-Chaco War. He said he was concerned in the purchase of a number of rifles in connection with that dispute. The paper also says it understands that Lawrence was first known in London in 1918. He joined revolutionary organisations and gained the confidence of Left politicians. He offered Mr. W. F. Watson, president of the London Workers' Committee, £50 to have 250,000 seditious leaflets printed. Mr. Watson refused the offer. The "Daily Herald" says it understands that the episode of Colonel Mezler was merely an incident in a vast Italian underground propaganda campaign against Britain, covering every section of the Empire. The paper 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. The "Daily Mail" says Lawrence's parents were Polish. He became a secret service agent in 1919 at Constantinople. When he was suspected of being in touch with the Third (Communist) International, Orloff, head of Denikin's secret service, swore to kill him. Lawrence escaped in a fishing boat from Odessa. The British authorities recognised him when he went to Mr. Mac Donald and offered for a specified sum to produce the author of tne Zinovieff letter. CHRISTIANS SHOT. Massacre by Italian Somalis At Harrar. DEATH ROLL ABOUT 200. (Received 1.30 p.m.) JIBOUTI, May 24. A massacre by Italian Somalis at Harrar took a religious complexion. About 200 Amharic Christians were killed in the first six days after the occupation of the city. The victims were asked: "Are you Islam?" If they did not answer immediately with a Mohammedan declaration of faith they were shot down.