Imperial Valley press., 1931-01-29
Formal Apology
Made To Italy
CONTINUED from Page u

air service. He was found guilty
and has retired.
In a quarter of an hour after the
announcement that Butler had beer
ordered courtmartialed. Butler ap-
parently had executed the order tc
place himself under arrest He was
in seclusion, would talk with no one
and orders were given at his office
at Quantico that on one should dis
cusS the matter or anything re-
motely pertaining to it with any
civilian or other officer.
At the navy department there was
similar silence. Queries of even
minor nature regarding the case had
to be referred to Secretary Adams
for answer.
Secretary of State Stimson re-
ceived Ambassador De MARITIME
about an hour after the order for
courtmartial was issued. They were
cloSeted together for a considera-
BILE time When De MARITIME left
Stimson issued the following state
ment:
Having learned from the Navy
department that Major General
Smedley D. Butler, U. s. M. c. has
admitted that the quotation of his
remarks in the press was substan-
tally correct, I have this morning
handed a note to the Italian am
bassador expressing to Signor Mus
Solini and the Italian people the
deep regret of this government at
this unauthorized action on the
part of an officer on active duty
Stimson also gave out the text
of the written apology which he had
handed to the ambassador. 1t was
as follows:
"Excellency: I have the honor to
express the deep regret which this
government feels at the reflections
against the prime minister OF Italy
in the unauthorized speech of Major
General Smedley D. Butler, United
States Marine Corps, at Philadel-
plia on January 10.
1.-THE sincere regrets of this gov
ernment are extended to Mr.. Mus
solini and to the italian people for
this discourteous and unwarranted
utterance by a commissioned officer
of this government on active duty
Accept, Excellency. the renewed
assurance of my highest considera-
ton"
"(Signed) HENRY L. STIMSON.'
WASHINGTON. Jan. %. UP
Secretary of the Navy Adams today
ordered a general court martial for
General Smedley D. Butler.
General Butler was directed by
telephone to place himself under ar
rest at the Marine Corps camp at
Quantico, Va, and to confine him
self to the camp.
The courtmartial order followed
complaint by the italian anbassa-
dor here against remarks on Pre-
mier Mussolini OF Italy attributed
to Butler. in a recent speech at
Philadelphia.
Secretary Adams decision to
bring the distinguished marine
corps officer before a courtmartiai
was reached after a long confer
ence this morning among Adams,
Major General Ben H. Fuller, COM
mandant of the Marine Corps; As
sistant Secretary of the Navy En-
est Lee Jahncke. and Admiral John
Hallihan, assistant chief of naval
operations.
The decision to courtmartial Cen
eral Butler was announced by Sec
retary Adams in one sentence
statement which said:
II have today ordered general
courtmartial for Major General
Smedley D. Butler"
PHOENIX. Ariz.. Jan. %. U.P)-
Informed today that General Smed-
Icy D. Butler had been courtmar-
tailed by naval authorities, Cor
nelius Vanderbilt, wealthy writer
and former newspaper publisher
repeated that he had no state
ment to make at this time"
Vanderbilt's name was drawn into
the case when it was reported in q
recent address to the Reno, New.
Rotary club he told a story about
the automobile of Premier Musso-
lini of Italy running over child.
II won't even say that / don't
want to be drawn into the affair,
Vanderbilt said
Vanderbilt is at work on a new
book here and plans to remain
three or four months.