STARTLING CONFESSION

Wanganui Chronicle, Volume 79, Issue 122, 25 May 1936, Page 7

STARTLING CONFESSION

LOPEZ AT NEWSPAPER OFFICE EARLY MORNING INTERVIEW APPEARANCE IN NIGHTSHIRT [By Telegraph -I*rejs Association—Copyr.ght] Bcceived May 24, 6.30 p.m. I,UN.L/ILX, .-uy 21. ‘I am three personalties but only one man, ’ said Henry Lawrence, languid wiue to accentuate ms words and ma«?.-g a lull conlcsuion icgarumg uxb activities to tne News-viuoaxla iu tae early nours ox the morning, xxe Stood in a wL-open uuOxWay maj c*iiy iu a win«e iiigbcsmru and gxaucui irequently along tne dosercei streo u as ii afraid or what lutkea tnexe. xxis xorenead was covered. Wita perspiration despite t .io ciu.ll nig at. A u Oman’s voice irom tin daikness streamed, “Teli tueni that the auuuondes sworn yoa to secrecy.’ iiuutic c m&»>-exa inma tion, 1 otve\er biuac down Lawrence’s reserve and ills confession poured out tumultuously as tliougn itaeving him.cii. i was Alezler, or Lopez, i.nut 1 Gid in connection with uurndum bullets was done irom pureiy patriotic motives, not drum personal gain or gieed. AuC authorities kno>v everything. nine w.L reveal that 1 was tne most patriotic | map in the country. My idea b. obtaining dumdum buiiets "as to compare them with others in order to reveal that those found in Abyssini.i were not British. The War Office authorities are satisfied with my explanations.’ ’ The Ncws-Chronicic suggested that Lawrence might be charged with treason. He iaugned nervously and declared, “lire authorities would not have returned my passport if they ha<l contemplated arresting me. ’ J «ough it seemed to give him confidence, lie went on bully io icpudiate that he was ever connected witn the Zsnuvrcv letter adding, •*! have not seen Mr. MacDonald except in the pictures. 0 His wife, a young blonue, grey-vyed woman, iud or cu.irm bat utterly weaiy, touk up the sto*y. tne said the strain was lugntiui. »hc had not slept for four nights. ** My husband always has been a patriot, ' sue said. ‘‘He went to South Africa at an early age and was aiways ready lur any auvenlure. He was, imprisoned as a result of participation in the Jamieson raid but wlrju toe Boer ar broke out he immediately joined the colours and was awarded two medals. After the Boer War he twice visited bourn America as representative of a big mining firm and learnt Spanish, which is the only foreign language he speaks.' ’ Mrs. Lawrence said that her husband had had a most adventurous career ».ut had not financially benefited. “We .have been married for -0 years but have never had any money, ‘ she con turned. “We opened a shop at Bournemouth in 1933 out lost our money. Aly husband learned a great deal about weapons while employed by big British armament manufacturers. Ah through the episode of the dumdum outlets i» e worked in th-j closest conjunction wiui the Italian Embassy, which employed him. Before taking the job he wrote to the British Government saying that if he found the Italians were wuikmg against Britain he would let them know.’’ His wife added that the Italian .Embassy had assured him tnat his work would have no bail effects on Britain but they let him down in every way and had not paid him a penny except expenses, ’■file trouble with us is that he is too trusting, ’ sne said. Inc News-Chronicle learns that Lawrence’s interview with the Bate Company at which he purchased the dumdum buiiets was nut his first visit to the form. Mr. .Rawlings, managingdirector, stated: “Lawrence first came to sec me towards the end of the Chaco War. He stated that he was concerned in tae purchase of a number of rifles in connection with the dispute.’’ The News-Chronitie also understands that Lawrente was first known in London in 191 s. He joined revolutionary organisations, gained the confidence ui the Left politicians and offered Mr. W. 1\ Watson, president of the London Workers’ ( onimittee, £SU to get 250,00 U seditious leaflets printed. Mr. Watson refused. The Dai y Herald understands that the Mezler episode is mere 4 y aa incident in a vast Ita.ian undexgrounG propaganda campaign against Britain covering every section of tne Empire. The Daily Mail says that Lawrence’s parents are Polish. He became a secret service agent in 191‘j at Constantinople when he was suspected ot being in touch with the Communist Internationale. Orloff, head of Denikin’s secret service swore to kill him, but Lawrence escaped iu a fishing boat from Odessa. The British authorities recognised him when he went to Ramsay MacDonald offering for a specified sum to produce the autiior of the Zino- \ iev letter. The Daily Herald say.- that the Foreign Unite informed the Italian Embassy that its methods were under scrutiny and would be exposed in the event of further trouble. THE ITALIAN NOTE PUBLICATION BY LEAGUE [ British Official Wireless. J RUGBY, May 22. The League of Nations to-day published the Italian Note concerning i ii% use of dumdum bullets by lh u Abyssinian armies. Geneva Press messages state that ♦he Noto and its accompanying illustrations refer to the British manutaeture of some of the illegal ammunition which came into the possession of the Italian troops. The full contents the Note have not reached London, but in view of the categorical statement made to the League by the British Government on February 4 and repeated several times in the House of Commons, as well as of the description given by the Foreign Secretary last Monday in a Parliamentary statement of the resort to fabrication of evidence to support the allegations