Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1931-01-29
BUTLER COURT-NARTIAL
ORDERED AS STIMSON
APOLOGIES TO ITALY
Secretary Adams Takes
Action When Officer
Explains Speech.
TRIAL TO BE HERE
Story About Mussolini
Killing Child Credited
to Young Vanderbilt.

An apology to Premier Mussolini OF
Italy by the American Government and
court-martial Tor Maj. Gen. Butler
today came as a result of the now
celebrated speech the Marine officer
made recently in Philadelphia.
The officers letter of explanation OF
the address had reached Secretary
Adams only a while before. In it was
confirmation of the fact that the fiery
Butler had quoted a friend as telling
him MuSsolini had run over a chile
in an automobile and then driven of
without notice.
Court-martial for Butler was ordered
Immediately. Almost as quickly Secre-
tary StimSon expressed 1.-The deep re-
greet which this Government feels al
the reflection against the prime min
lister of ITALY,"
Ordered Under Arrest.
Butler was ordered by his comman-
dant, Maj. Gen. Fuller, to place himself
under arrest and not to leave the bar
racks at Quantico, Va, which he COM
mands,
Italian Ambassador de MARITIME, who
had protested the speech at the instance
of MusSolini, expressed satisfaction with
the apology
The Navy Department moved toward
the general court-martial ordered ano
a chapter that may end Buffers ad-
venturous career as a Marine had be-
gun.
Secretary Stimsons note was dated
January 90. 1t said:
'"Excellency:
IT have the honor to express the deep
regret which this Government feels at
the reflections against the Prime Min
lister of Italy in the unauthorized speech
of Maj. Gen. Smedley D. Butler, United
States Marine Corps, at Philadelphia
on January 19. The sincere regrets OF
this Government are extended to Mr..
Mussolini and to the Italian people for
this diScourteous and unwarranted ut
terance by a commissioned officer of
this Government on active duty.
Accept, Excellency. the renewed as
Surance of my highest consideration.
(SigneO HENRY L. STIMSON."
His Excellency,
Mobile Giacomo de MARITIME,
Royal Italian Ambassador"
Apology Held Unusual.
State Department officials said they
could not recall of any similar apology
recently.
Secretary Adams acted promptly after
a long conference this morning with
Z
fetal report demanded by the Secretary
several days ago. Gen. Fuller'S report
was not made public.
The Italian Premier, on learning OF
the reported speech, communicated
with the Italian Ambassador here,
Mobile Giacomo de MARITIME, who pre-
viously had protested to the State De-
partment that the hit and run allega-
tons against Mussolini were false and
slanderouS.
Envoy Denies Statement.
While the Italian Ambassadors pro-
test against Buffers remarks was ver-
bal, two days ago he issued a formal
statement in which he characterized
them as untrue and slanderous."
He also denied emphatically that
MusSolini's automobile had ever struck
ANY child, man or woman" adding
that If he had, "Signor Mussolini would
have done what is the duty Of every
one-he would have stopped and
brought help"
De Martino's statement said las it
appears from the Philadelphia papers"
that Butler had asserted that an Amer
lean was riding with MuSsolini in tour
Of Italy; that during this tour Signor
MusSolini ran over child without stop
ping and that when the generals friend
screamed when the accident occurred
MuSsolini uttered these words: What
Is one life in the affairs of a state?'"
The Ambassador declared he could
state "categorically that Signor Mus
solini has never invited any American
to accompany him on any trip around
Italy"
The State Department referred the
protests to the Navy Department and
Secretary Adams called on Gen. Butler
for an explanation. Buffers response
has not been divulged, but in private
circles the Quantico commandant said
that a good friend Of his had told him
the story about Mussolini.
From other sources it was indicated
today that the Mussolini accusations
were voiced first by Cornelius Wander
bilt, jr wealthy journalist, at a dinner
with Gen. Butler present as guest.
Public Trial Probable.
The members of the court-martial
will be appointed by Gen. Fuller at an
early date, it was said. 1t Is probable
the trial will be conducted in open ses-
sion at the Navy Department or some
other convenient place here. The last
court-martial here of a high-ranking
officer was that of Brig. Gen. William
Mitchell of the Army Air Service sew
eral years ago on charges of inSubordi-
nation and "unbecoming conduct" Gen.
Mitchell resigned and is now residing
near Middleburg, Va. The Mitchell
court-martial attracted extraordinary
press attention.
This is not the first time that Gen.
Butler has been in difficulties. He
claimed front page prominence in the
newspapers for his vigorous crusade
against vice in Philadelphia in 1924,
during which period he served as direc-
tor of public safety. He quit the Phila-
delphia undertaking after charging that
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