CHARGES WITHDRAWN.
GENERAL AND MUSSOLINI.
COURT-MARTIAL CANCELLED. MILD REPRIMAND INSTEAD. By Telegraph—Press Association—Copyright. (Received Februiry 9. 5.5 p.m.) WASHINGTON, Feb. 8. The Navy Department announces that its plans for holding a court-martial on Major-General Butler have been abandoned and it will roprimand him instead, for his remarks concerning the Italian Prime Minister, Signor Mussolini. This action was decided upon after the Secretary of the Navy, Mr. C. F. Adams, had received a letter from General Butler further explaining his reference to Signor Mussolini in his recent speech at Philadelphia, for which the United States Government apologised to Italy.
In his letter General Butler said ho understood that his remarks, when ho referrati to Signor Mussolini would be confined to the limits of the four walls of the.club before which he spoke. 110 expressed his great regret for the incident and for the fact that his indiscreet remarks had caused embarrassment to the Government. Mr. Adams has now issued a mild reprimand. Although general public opinion lias been that General Butler merited a reprimand for his indiscretion, it is felt that tho Administration is considerably relieved at this disposition of the incident, especially since the court-martial had promised to develop into sensationalism, which would have been embarrassing to all concerned.
Major-General Butler was reported to have stated in tho course of an address at Philadelphia that Signor Mussolini was " tho mad dog of war" and a " hit and run" motorist. Ho was alleged to have staled that a friend of his who had toured Italy with Signor Mussolini had seen the Ducc's motor-car kill _ a child and bo driven away without aid being given. General Butler was also_ said to have discussed the Italian Primo Minister's alleged warlike proclivities and to have accused him of desiring to start wars.
In a cablegram to the Italian Ambassador Signor Mussolini said: " I never ran over any one, and I never took an American on a tour of Italy."
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New Zealand Herald, Volume LXVIII, Issue 20794, 10 February 1931, Page 11
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325CHARGES WITHDRAWN. New Zealand Herald, Volume LXVIII, Issue 20794, 10 February 1931, Page 11
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