ILLEGAL AMMUNITION

Waikato Times, Volume 119, Issue 19889, 19 May 1936, Page 7

ILLEGAL AMMUNITION

ATTEMPT TO IMPLICATE BRITAIN. STORY OF FORGERY AND MISREPRESENTATION MEMBERS OF PARLIAMENT INDIGNANT. (Official Wireless.) (Received May 19, 11 a.m.) RUGBY, May 18. A remarkable account of the manufacture of evidence implicating British firms in the supply of illegal ammunition to the Ethiopian forces was included in a full statement regarding the renewal of Italian allegations that dum-dum or explosive bullets had been supplied from British sources to the Ethiopian Government for military use, which the Foreign Secretary made at question time in the House of Commons. The House received it for the most part in surprised silence, but there were strong expressions of indignation at the close.

Mr Eden recalled that on April 12 a Rome newspaper message, after repeating the old charges, which had already 'been refuted, published photographs of certain soft-nosed cartridges made in this country, and a certain letter from Messrs George Bate, Limited, of Birmingham, addressed on February 19 to the Abyssinian Minister in London, accompanied by photographs of packages addressed to the Aybssinian Legation marked: “Materials will be supplied for Abyssinia.” Mr Eden said It would interest the House to learn how the letter and packages came into Italian possession.

On February 19 an individual styling himself Colonel Pedro Lopez called on the managing-director of Messrs George Bale, Limited, and intimated that he represented the Aybssinian Government. After producing a letter of introduction (a forgery) from the Bank of Egypt, and after mentioning the possibility of appointing Messrs George Bate Ltd., as 'buying agents for the Abyssinian Government, this person stated that the Abyssinian Legation wished to secure samples of cartridges of British manufacture, which should include dum-dum ammunition. On being told that ammunition in the latter category was not used in civilised warfare the so-called Lopez replied: “Abyssinia is swarming with leopards, which it is no use shooting with solid bullets.” After some further conversation the managing director agreed to supply him with certain ammunition, including a number of rounds of soft-nosed cartridges. “ Of British Manufacture.” The Foreign Secretary related to the House how these were packed in a box, and how before it was sealed Lopez asked that something should be included in writing to prove that the cartridges were of British manufacture. The letter which was "prepared did not satisfy his requirements, so Lopez himself dictated there and then a communication from Mr Bale to the Abyssinian Minister in London, guaranteeing that the sample was of British manufacture. Lopez look possession of the parcel. When the letter which Lopez had dictated was published in the Italian press, Mr Eden added, he had ascertained that neither the package nor tho letter had ever 'been delivered to the Abyssinian Minister in London, nor had Lopez been entrusted by the/latter with the mission of securing samples or cartridges. Lopez was known lo have approached unsuccessfully several •other firms in Ihe United Kingdom. Well-Known to Authorities. Mr Eden told the House that Lopez was well-known lo the authorities under a number of aliases, and after giving some particulars of his career said that in 'October, 1935, Lopez wrote to the Foreign Office slating that he thought that his services might he of use to His Majesty’s Government. In the letter he mentioned that he had already had three conferences with the Italian military attache at the latter’s express invitation. Details af the many contracts and the meetings which Lopez was known to have had with representatives of the Italian Embassy would weary the House, hut it was only necessary to say that Lopez’s relations with the Italian Embasy had continued, and he was known In have had contacts with members of the Italian military attache's staff within the last three weeks. !Y!r Eden then explained that Lopez’s activities appeared to the Government to be of so mischievous a nature that i*t had been decided that a friendly warning should be addressed to tho Italian Embassy. The Italian Ambassador had been warned orally by high official of I lie Foreign office. He was told dial Ihe Foreign Sccrelary was aware, dial the Embassy was in touch with a notorious purveyor of false information and forged documents. Jt was furl her staled that i! had conic, to Ihe knowledge of the Government that, posing as a purchaser of arms for I lie Abyssinian Government, had been making .enquiry aijout

the alleged supply of dum-dum ammunition from this country, and that he was apparently attempting to persuade the Italian authorities that such ammunition was being exported with official connivance from the United Kingdom. Man of Disreputable Type. In conclusion it was suggested that the continued employment of a man of this disreputable type would not be conducive to the maintenance of good relations between Italy and the United 'Kingdom. The Ambassador replied that he was unaware of the existence of the individual in question, and expressed the most grateful thanks for the information, which he regarded as likely to prove of great benefit to Anglo-Italian relations. Asked by members whether there was no case for prosecution regarding Ihe nationality of Lopez or Mezler, Mr Eden replied that the Director of Public Prosecutions had come to the conclusion that although there might have been a minor contravention of the Firearms Act of 1920 the facts did not afford satisfactory ground for a prosecution for an indictable offence. Lopez was a British subject of Polisli origin. Propaganda Revived. Subsequent, however, to the warning, said Mr Eden, I lie Italian propaganda on the alleged supply of dum-dum ammunition by British firms was revived through the public press, which also published a copy of the letter which Lopez himself dictated to the secretary and managing director of George Bate and Company. Mr Eden then described another aspect of Lopez’s activity. On March 31, under another alias—namely, Mezler, he called on the Abyssinian Minister in London, and offered, in return for concessions in that country, to supply the Abyssinian Government ' with large quantities of arms and am- ! munition. He asked for a letter from i the Minister auihorising Colonel Gustavo Mezler to buy these goods, adding that he would be prepared to obtain ihe necessary permils, and lie induced the Abyssinian Minister lo sign a paper containing a long list of the required ammunition.

The Minister had stated that among Hie many items listed lie omitted to notice one lor 3,000,000 soft-nosed cartridges,. and it was obvious that lie could not have noticod it, for, apart from everything else, lie knew that no export license for these rounds could ever have been obtained from the> Board of Trade. Their purchase, therefore, would have been utterly useless, and, in fact, no application for a license for any of the mun itions in this list was ever made. But the paper was signed by the Abysisinian Minister and later was published in Rome in the newspaper Messagero. Attempt to Fabricate Evidence. In conclusion, Mr Eden said it was with the greatest regret that he felt compelled to deal frankly with what could only he described as an attempt to fabricate evidence that the Abyssinian forces had been supplied with illegal ammunition by British interests, but it was necessary to proteot the good name of British Industry, and that there should be no misapprehension abroad as to the very oareful steps taken by the British Government to control not only the quantity but the types of arms and munitions exported from the United Kingdom.

An Italian Note addressed lo tho League of Nations a week ago un i then wilhdruwn the loiter from Messrs Bate, Ltd-, and Ihe Abyssinian Minister's paper. Although it had been officially withdrawn copies had been circulated informally to the foreign delegations at Geneva, and Ihe publicity which had ensued had compelled him, Mr Eden said, lo make a lull statement of Ihe facts, without any desire to excite controversy or criticism. An Inhuman Brute. Mr W. Thorne: “Is not there some power to expel an inhuman brute like this?” Mr E. J. Williams: “ Is not this evidence that the private production or armaments should be prohibited?” The Speaker closed the incident by proceeding with other business.