DUMDUM BULLETS

Dominion, Volume 29, Issue 199, 20 May 1936, Page 11

DUMDUM BULLETS

How Italian “Evidence” Was Obtained REMARKABLE ACCOUNT Statement by Mr. Eden in Commons INDIGNATION IN HOUSE (British Official Wireless.) Rugby, May 18. A remarkable account of the manufacture of evidence implicating British firms in the supply of illegal ammunition to the Ethiopian forces was included in a full statement regarding the renewal of the Italian allegations that dumdum or explosive bullets had been supplied from British sources to the Ethiopian Government for military use which the Foreign Secretary made at question time in the House of Commons. The House received it for the most part in surprised silence, but there were strong expressions of indignation at the close. Mr. Eden recalled that on April 12 a newspaper message from Rome, after repeating old charges which had already been refuted, published photographs of certain soft-nosed cartridges made in this country and a letter from Messrs. George Bate, of Birmingham, addressed on February 19 to the Abyssinian Minister in London, accompanied by photographs of packages addressed to the Abyssinian Legation and marked, “Materials to be supplied for Abyssinia.” Forged Letter. Mr. Eden said it would interest the House to learn how the letter and the packages came into Italian possession. On February 19 last an individual who styled himself Colonel Pedro Lopez called on the managing director of Messrs. Bate and intimated that he represented the Abyssinian Government. After producing a letter of Introduction from the Bank of Egypt, itself a forgery, and after mentioning the possibility of appointing Messrs. George Bate as buying agents for the Abyssinian Government, this person stated that the Abyssinian Legation wished to secure samples of cartridges of British manufacture, which should include dumdum ammunition. On being told that ammunition in the latter category was not used in civilised warfare, the so-called Colonel Lopez replied that Abyssinia was swarming with leopards which it was no use shooting with solid bullets. After some further conversation the managing director agreed to supply him with certain ammunition, including a number of rounds of 7.9 soft-nosed cartridges. Letter Dictated. The Foreign Secretary related to the House how these were packed in a box and how, before it was sealed. Colonel Lopez asked that something should be included in the writing to prove that the cartridges were of British manufacture. The letter which was prepared did not satisfy his requirements, so Colonel Lopez himself dictated there and then a communication from Messrs. Bate to the Abyssinian Minister in London guaranteeing that the sample was of British manufacture. Colonel Lopez took possession of the parcel, and the letter he had himself dictated was published in the Italian Press. Mr. Eden added that he had ascertained that neither the package nor the letter was ever delivered to the Abyssinian Minister in London, nor had Colonel Lopez been entrusted by the latter with the mission of securing samples of cartridges. Colonel Lopez was known to have approached unsuccessfully several other firms in the United Kingdom. Mr. Eden told the House that Colonel Lopez was well known to the authorities under a number of aliases, and, after giving some particulars of his career, said that in October, 1935, Colonel Lopez wrote to the Foreign Office stating that he thought his services might be of tise to his Majesty’s Government. In the letter he mentioned that he had already had three conferences with the Italian Military Attache at the latter’* express invitation. Details of many contacts and meetings which Colonel Lopez known to have made with representatives of the Italian Embassy would -weary the House, but it was only necessary to say that Colonel Lopez’s relation with the Italian Embassy had continued and that he was known to have had contacts with members of the Italian Military Attache’s staff within the last three weeks. Italian Embassy Warned. Mr. Eden then explained that Colonel Lopez’s activities appeared to the Government to be of so mischievous a nature that it was decided that a friendly warning should be addressed to the Italian Embassy. The Italian Ambassador was warned orally by a high official of the Foreign Office He was told that the Foreign Secretary was aware that the Embassy was in touch with a notorious purveyor of false information and forged documents. It was further stated that it had come to the knowledge of the Government that, posing as a purchaser of arms for the Abyssinian Government. Colonel Lopez was making inquiries about the alleged supply of dumdum ammunition from this coun try and that he was apparently attempting to persuade the Italian authorities that such ammunition was being exported with official connivance from the United Kingdom. In conclusion, it was suggested that the continued employment of a man of this disreputable type would not be conductive to the maintenance of good relations between Italy and the United Kingdom. The Ambassador replied that he him self was quite unaware of the existence of the individual in question, and expressed his most grateful thanks for the information, which he regarded as likely to prove of great benefit to Anglo-Italian relations. Subsequent, however, to this warning, Italian propaganda on the alleged supply of dumdum ammunition by British firms was received through the public Press, which also published a copy of the letter which Colonel Lopez had himself dictated to the secretary of the managing director of George Bate and Co. Activity Under Another Name, Mr. Eden then described another aspect of Colonel Lopez’s activity. On March 31 under another alias, namely Mezler. he called on the Abyssinian Minister in London, and offered in return for concessions in that country to sunply the Abyssinian Government with large quantities of arms and am-

munition. He asked for a letter from the Minister authorising Colonel Gustave Mezfer to buy these goods, adding that he would be prepared to obtain the necessary permits, and he induced the Abyssinian Minister to sign a paper containing a long list of required' ammunition. The Minister had stated that among many items listed he omitted to notice one for 3,000,000 softnosed cartridges. It was obvious that he could not have noticed it, for apart from anything else he knew no export license for these rounds could ever have been obtained from the Board of Trade. Their purchase, therefore, would have been utterly useless, and, in fact, no application for a license for any of the munitions in this list was ever made, but the paper signed by the Abyssinian Minister was later published in the Home newspaper “Messagero.” Attempt, to Fabricate Evidence. In conclusion, Mr. Eden said it was with the greatest regret that he felt compelled to deal frankly with what could only be described as an attempt to fabricate evidence that the Abyssianian forces had been supplied with illegal ammunition by British interests, but It was necessary to protect the good name of British industry and that there should be no misapprehension abroad as to the very careful steps taken by the British Government to control not. only the quantity but the types of arms and munitions exported from the United Kingdom. The Italian Note addressed to the League of Nations a week ago and then withdrawn had reproduced the letter from Bate and Co. and the Abyssinian Minister’s paper. Although officially withdrawn, the copies had been circulated informally to the foreign delegations in Geneva, and the publicity which had ensued had compelled him, Mr. Eden said, to make a full statement of the facts without any desire to excite controversy or criticism. Members of the House asked whether there was no case for prosecution of Lopez or Mezler. Mr. Eden replied that the Director of Public Prosecutions had come to the conclusion that, although there might have been a minor contravention of the Firearms Act of 1920. the facts did not afford satisfactory ground for prosecution for an indictable offence. Colonel Lopez was a British subject of Polish origin. Mr. Will Thorne (Lab., Plaistow) : Ts not there some power to expel an inhuman brute like this? Mr. E. .1. Williams (Lab.. Ogmore) : Is not this evidence that the private production of armaments should be prohibited? Mr Speaker closed the incident by proceeding to other business. COMMONS SATISFIED Thoroughness of Exposure (Received May 19. 9.40 p.m.) London, May 19. Members of the House of Commons are generally satisfied with the thoroughness of Mr. Eden's exposure of the dum-dum lie and the Government will not be pressed to take up the Italian Embassy’s connection with it. Further questions regarding the position of the Italian attache will lie asked, some members of the House of Commons holding that the Government should invite the Italian Government to make a change.