DUM DUM PLOT

Poverty Bay Herald, Volume LXIII, Issue 19023, 25 May 1936, Page 5

DUM DUM PLOT

CONFESSION MADE "PATRIOTIC MOTIVES" COMPARISON INTENDED WIPE TELLS OF CAREER ITALIANS DID NOT FAY (Elec. Tel. Copyright—United Press Assn.) LONDON, May 23. "I am three personalities, but only one man," said Henry Lawrence, alias Colonel Pedro Lopez, who is accused of plotting to fabricate evidence that the Abyssinian forces had been supplied with illegal ammunition by British interests. Flinging wide his arms to accentuate his words, he made a full confession regarding his activities to the NewsChronicle in the early hours of the morning. He stood in a half-open doorway Clad only in a white night-shirt, and glanced frequently along the deserted street as if afraid of what lurked there. His forehead was covered with perspiration despite the chill night.

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 his confession poured out tumultously, as though relieving himself.

"I was Mezler and Lopez," ho said. "What I did in connection with dumdum bullets was done from purely patriotic motives, and not from personal gain or greed. The authorities know cvervthing, and time will reveal that 1 am 'the most patriotic man in the country. My idea in obtaining dumdum bullets was to compare them with others in order to reveal that those found in Abyssinia were not British. The War Office authorities are satisfied with my explanations." NO PEAR OP ARREST The News-Chronicle representative suggested that Lawrence might be charged with treason. He laughed nervously and declared: "The authorities would not have returned my passport if they had contemplated arresting me." As though it seemed to give trim confidence, he went on to hotly repudiate that he was ever connected with the Zinoviev letter, adding: "I have not seen Mr. MacDonald except in the pictures." His wife, a pretty blonde, grey-eyed woman, full of charm but utterly weary, took up the story. She said the strain was frightful and she had not slept for four nights. Her husband was always a patriot. He went to South Africa at an early age, always ready for any adventure. He was imprisoned as the result of participation in the Jamieson raid, but when the Boer War broke out he immediately joined the colours and was awarded two medals. MARRIED FOR 20 YEARS

After the Boer War he twice visited South America as the representative/of a big mining linn. He learnt Spanish, which is the only foreign language lie speaks. Her husband had had a most adventurous career, but had not financially benefited. ','We havo been married for 20 years and havo never had any money," .'he continued. "We opened a shop in Bournemouth in 1933, but lost our 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 ho worked in the closest conjunction with the Italian Embassy, which employed him. Before taking the job, he wrote to tlie British Government saying that if he found the Italians working against Britain he would let it know.

"The Italian Embassy assured him that his work would have no bad effects on Britain, but they let him down in every way and had" not paid him one penny except expenses. The trouble with us is that he is too trusting." INTEREST IN CHACO WAR The News-Chronicle learns that Lawrence's interview with the Bate Company, at Birmingham, >at which he purchased dum-dum bullets, was not his first visit to that firm. Mr. Rawlings, the managing director, stated: "Lawrence first came to seo me towards the end of the Chac.o war. He Mthtcd that ho was concerned with the purchase of a number of rifles in connection with the dispute." The News-Chronicle also understands that Lawrence was first known in London in 1918. He joined revolutionary organisations and gained the confidence of the Left politicians. He offered Mr. W. F. Watson, president of the London Workers' Committee £SO to get 250,000 seditious leaflets printed, but Mr.""Watson refused. The Daily Herald understands that the Mezler episode is merely an incident in a vast Italian underground propaganda campaign against Britain '•.overing every section of the Empire. The Daily Mail says that Lawrence's parents were Polish. He berime secret service ajjent in 1010 at» Constantinople, when he was suspected of being in. touch with the Communist international". Orloff, head of General Donikin's secret service, swore 'he vvmild kill him. Lawrence escaped in a fishing boat from Odessu. The British authorities 'OCOgnlsed' him when he wont to Mr. Rnihsay MacDonald, offering for a specified sum, to produce the author of the Zinoviev letter. The Daily Herald says the Foreign Office informed the Italian Embassy that its methods were under scrutiny and would be exposed in the event of further trouble.