DUM-DUM BULLET SPY’S STORY

Northern Advocate, 25 May 1936, Page 5

DUM-DUM BULLET SPY’S STORY

LOPEZ CONFESSES HIS ACTIVITIES

CLAIM THAT HIS MOTIVES WERE PATRIOTIC

{United Press Assoclation.-By Electric T ele graph.—Copyright.] (Received 10 a.m.) ... . LONDON, May 23. Italian agent, Lopez—now generally referred to as Henry Lawrence—who originated the al- - legations against the British firms' of supplying dum-dum bullets to the Abyssinians, made a full confession of his activities today to a representative of the “NewsChronicle.” “I have three personalities, but am only one man,” said Lawrence, flinging wide his arms to accentuate his words, f' ' '

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 streets as if he were afraid of what lurked there. His forehead was covered in 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.”

Hectic cross-examination, however, broke down Lawrence’s reserve and his confession was poured out as though he. were relieving himself of a burden., “X was Mezler,and I was Lopez,”. ’ said Lawrence. ‘‘What 1 did in. ..connection wjth dum-dum bullets was done from purely patriotic motives,., not from motives of personal gain or greed.. The authorities know am the most patriotic man in the coun- ' 1 War Office Satisfied. ; “My idea in obtaining samples of dum-dum 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 explanation.” The interviewer suggested that Lawrence might be charged with treason. He laughed nervously,, and said: “The authorities would hot have returned &y 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 MacDonald except, in pictures. Wife Chimes In. At this stage Lawrence’s wife took up the story. She is 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 was 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 that war. Twice he visited South America as the representative of a big mining firm. He learned 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.

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 future trouble. The “Daily Mail” says Lawrence’s parents were Polish. He became a secret service agent in 1919 at- Constantinople. When he was suspected with being in touch with the Third (Communist) Internationale, Orloff, head of Denekin’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 MacDonald and offered, for a specified sum, to produce the author bf the Zinovieff Letter.

Italian Embassy Work. “All through the episode of the dumdum bullets, my husband worked invery close conjunction with the Italian Embassy, whicn employed him,” continued Mrs Lawrence. “Before he took the'job he wrote to the BritiTn saying that if he found the Italians were working against Britain, he would let them know.” The wife added that the Italian Embassy had assured her husband that his work would have no bad effect on Britain, but it had “let him down” in every way, and had not paid him a penny, except for ex- , penses. The trouble was that he was too trusting.

The “News-Chronicle” says it learns that Lawrence’s interview with Messrs Bate and Co., when he purchased the dum-dum bullets, was not his first visit to the firm. Mr Rawlings, managing director, stated that Lawrence first came to see him towards 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. 1918 Activities. 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, £SO to have 250,000 seditious leaflets printed. Mr Watson refused the offer. The “Daily Herald” says it understands that the episode bf Colonel Mezler was merely an incident in a vast Italian underground propaganda campaign against Britain, covering every section of the Empire.