PUTUMAYO ATROCITIES.

Dominion, Volume 6, Issue 1720, 10 April 1913, Page 7

PUTUMAYO ATROCITIES.

SENOR ARANA DENIES KNOWLEDGE .." OP THEM. By Telegranh—Pr«ss AsSoclation-Oopjright ' London,' April 9. Senor Arana, head of the Peruvian Amazon Company, which is alleged to have been responsible for tho rubber atrocities at Putumayo, in giving evidence before tho Parliamentary Committeo of Inquiry, denied' knowledge of the cruelties until ho saw the account of them in the report of the British Consul, Sir Roger Casement. ' (Rec. April 9, 10.30 p.m.) London, April 9. _ Senor Arana declared that the atrocities were much exaggerated. He was unable to explain how he had not heard of tho atrocities when the British and United States consuls and tho head' !of tho Roman Catholic Church knew of them. ■ SENOR ARANA'S DEFENCE. Senor Arana was interviewed at Lisbon by tho "Daily Mail"'correspondent whilo en route to England. Tho correspondent stated: He is a big, dark man with a short black chin beard. I asked him to give me a personal statement for publication. At first he demurred, and said he would prefer to reserve what ho had to say for the Committee of tho House of Commons, but finally he. agreed to answer certain questions. . I asked him, "What about these Putumayo atrocities?" Ho answered, "l'hey are grossly exaggerated, and fantasy plays a large part in the allegations. Enemies of mine who wish to exploit rubber in the territory aro partly responsible for the exaggerations. Some of tho eases of ill-treatment of natives are undoubtedly true, but I am in no way responsible t'of- them. They took place in. remote localities in tho interior of Peru, where-1 have never been in my life. Certain of the stories of cruelty date back to a period six years ago. I know nothing of these incidents." I asked' him why he had offered to give evidence before the Select Committeo of the House of Commons. Senor Arana answered: "I was invited to do so by the committee and accepted the invitation. But I havo many other, matters of business to which to attend in England." I; said: "Have you a safe-conduct enabling you to leave British territory?" He replied with a smile: "No, but I am not afraid. I am not responsible for what took place. I was generally absent from tho hacienda (rubber estate), only going thero three or four times a year." o He told me as he took leave that the liquidation of the Peruvian-Amazon Company is now in progress, but some time would elapse before it was completed. Senor Arana is travelling with a secretary and valet. He does not spealc English, and our conversation was carried on in Spanish.