A CONFESSION

Waikato Times, Volume 119, Issue 19894, 25 May 1936, Page 5

A CONFESSION

LOPEZ TELLS STORY. MAN OF THREE PERSONALITIES. t —— i AN ADVENTUROL’S CAREER. i United i‘res.‘ Assn—Eluc. Tet. Copyright. LONDON, May 23. The Italian agent LDpeZ-—no\\‘ gen—erally referred to as Henry Lawrence -—who originated the allegations against British firms of supplying dum—dum bullets to the Abyssinians. made a full confession of his activities to—day to a representative of the News Chronicle. "1 have three pcrsonaiitits, but am only one man,“ said Lawrence. flinging wide his arms to accentuate his words. The interview took place in the early hours or the morning. Lawrence stood at. a half-open doorway clad only in white night attire. He glanced frequently at the deserted street as it‘ he were afraid of what lurked there. His forehead was covered with 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." Relieved or a Burden. A hectic cross-examination, however, broke down Lewrenee‘s reserve and his confession was poured out tumultuousiy as though he were relieving himself of a burden. "I was Mezler, and I- was Lopez," said Lawrence. “\Vhat. I did in con—nection with dum-duxm bullets was done from purely patriotic motives. not from motives of personal gain or greed. The authorities know everything. Time will reveal that I am the most patriotic man in the coun—try. “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. Thr- \\'nr Limce aulhnrlivics were satisfied with my explanations.“ The interviewer suggested ihal Lawrence might. he charged with iron—son. lie laughed nervously and said:

”The authorities would not have re—turned my passport, it" they contemplated having me arrested.“ Lawrence. went on holly to repudlaie the suggestion that he was ever conneried with the Zinoviei‘i‘ letter. lie said he hnd not. seen Mr .\lacDonald, except in pictures. The Wife's Story. At, this stage Lawrence's wife took up the story. She was a hlonde. 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. lie wont 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 .lamieson raid. hut when the Boer \\‘ar broke out hr immediately joined ihr- colours. lie was awarded two medals utter that. war. Twice he visited South Amertrn as the representative of a big mining flrm. -.1-Ie learnt, Spanish. which was the only foreign language he spoke. “My husband has hart a most adventurous roreer." said Mr Lawrcnrr. “but has not. benefited financially. \\'e have been married 20 years, but. have never had any money. \Ve opened a shop at, Bournemouth in 1033. but we lost. money. My husband lrarned a great deal about weapons while he was employed by big British armament manufacturers. ; Worked With ltnllana. ‘ “All throuzh the episode of the} dum—dum bullets my husband worked in very close conjunction with the‘ llaiian Emhassy which employed him." continued .\lr Lawrence. “Before he took the int) he wrote in the British Government saying that if he found the ltalians were workiuK against Britain he would let them know." The wife added that. the Italian Embassy had nssured her huslmnd his work would have. no bad Pfrocts on Britain. But it had “let him down" in every way and had not paid him a penny except for expenses. The lrouhle was ihnt, he was too trusting; 'l‘hn News (lhronirle says it learns that. Lmn‘enre‘s inlet-View with \lessrsRate and Company. when he, |;ur« (hosed the tium-tium hullets‘ “ids" not his first visit. to the firm. .\lr Rex» tings. managing director, stated that Lawrence fTrst came to are him to» ward the end of the Gran—Charo \\'mu llri said hr was ronrerued in the pur—chase. of :1 number of rifles in ron—nertion with that, dispute. The pnprr also says it understands that. Lawrence was first known in Lon—don in 1018. lie joined revolutionary organisations and gained the contidenrr: of Left. politicians. lie offered Mr W. F. \\'atson. president or the London \\'orkers' Committee £SO to have 250,000 seditious lnatlets printed. Mr Watson refused the offer. The Daily Herald any: It. understands that. the episode of Colonel Mutat- was merely an Incident. In A vast. Italian underground propaganda campaign against Britain. covering every seotlon of the Emplro. The paper says the Foreign omre has informed the ltnlinn Embassy that its methods are, under st'rutlny and will he, exposed in the event of further trouhle. Sworn to Kill Him. The, Daily Mail says Lawrennc's parents were l‘oiislt, lin heramr n secret, sr‘rviro agent in iflttl at (jou—sinntinoplr. \\'iwn he was suspr‘rtwl or being in tnurh with the Third 'Coinmttnisl‘ international. r'trlni‘r. head of llr‘uihin's sorrel su-mirn, swore to tail] liluL ilnwrent'e osrnprd in n li<liinx imni from mlr'ssn. ’l‘he llriiish millmritivw i‘et‘ouniseil ltitn \\'ilt'll he won! to Hi" \lnrltonnirl nud offered for :l spi-riiimt sum In prmture the author of thr Xinm’ietT letter. STATEMENT BY CONSUL. In; ..I I‘l \i in \i ill ill-iii ii} To eri‘at-h l‘rr‘fi .\“t‘u'lMiniLi \\'iilliiifil'i'l'UN‘ Monday The ltaiiau Consul for .\'eu Acaldnd _

___/#2:; has made the following statement: With a Note dated April 30, acconipunying is enclosures. the italian Government has nolltled the League of Nations at many cases in which dum—itum hullets were used by tar Ethio—iviun troops during all phases of the i'i-rcnt conflict. The Note specified the (liliL'N'. localities. nnnn‘s oi‘ the wounded, iiicdicnl declarations. photographs, i-uiiio photographs of wounded; photo—;raps of the chips or the bullets \\'hiL‘li hull lm‘n i-xiriivtmi from the wounds; .iisu photographs of ilum—lium bullets rupturvii ~~ti|l \\rnmmti in inlialled iiiii'lu‘is. .\tmiln‘r Solo “1' Ihu .sanu- data, rnniriinilm sm'm'ui nilll‘l‘ c-lmnonls Khing rummcing' miili-nrv that .i liritlsli lil'lil i-uuirl. and tlill. \\itlmul llii- knmv {mine of tho iii‘itiaii liiwmwmmni. nup—pl} Illii||—llllill lmilr‘ts tn lin- Ethiopian unvrrinuvnt. “as «ml to Hit' League in} tho Huiidn liml‘i'mm-nl. itul it iii-n» inn :imwarmi Hint .wniu- clump," of ”“5 Sm'nnrl .\nie. liinupzh infllPl‘laHy 3mm". tirnthri. could give grounds for limppm‘tune poivmiCS. the iiqlian GOYl‘i‘lh ment has decidnrl to withdraw If “uh the object at contributing tau-unis a .i‘Jlarance of the political atmowhere.