Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1931-02-09
italian Embassy Gets Copy
of Correspondence and
Incident Is Closed.
NO EXPLANATION MADE
FOR CHANGING PLANS
Marine Expresses Regret to Secre-
tary for Causing Embarrass-
nent to U. s.

BY the Associated Press.
There will be no court-martial for
Maj. Gen. Smedley d. Butler of the
Marine Corps.
Instead, after expressing regret for
his recent 'indiscreet remarksu con-
corning Premier Mussolini of italy. the
outSpoken officer drew yesterday n
| sharply worded reprimand from Secre.
tary Adams, which included a hope the
incident would have "a sanitary effect
on your future conduct in matters of
this character
At the request of State Department
officials the Navy Department furnished
Ambassador de MARITIME Of Italy a COPY
Of the correspondence.
The trial, which was scheduled to
start a week from today in Philadel.
phia, was ordered Cancelled after Butler
mad acknowledged making remarks de-
rogatory to Premier Mussolini.
OficiaIIy Ended.
The transmission of the correspond
ence was informal, but was considered
by both State Department and embassy
ofhcialS to be sufficient to end the mat.
ter definitely, SO far as the two govern
mentS were concerned
Slgnor MuSsolini, in dispatch to the
embassy, more than a week ago. as
serted he considered the incident closed
by the apology the American Govern
menu mace 70 him for Buffers asser-
tons.
Butler continued today to maintain
the silence he has held since word he
was under arrest came from the Navy
department. His home at Quantfco de-
cIlned TO answer telephone calls from
washington, while his aide, who pre-.
Viousiy mad talked to newspaper men.
likewise placed himself out Of reach.
Quantico Is Silent.
Other officials at the Marine reserya-
ton, commanded by Butler. declined
even to say whether the general was
IN eluantlco, saying no one cared to
assume the responsibility of saying any
Inlng ABOUT the posts commandment.
The action calling OF the trial was
taken evidently after consultation be-
tween Buffers legal representatives and
the Navy Department. The general
placed his regrets in q letter which
pointed out that the speech responsibla
Ior ms troubles, made January 10 be-
Iore the Contemporary Club OF Pf1fla-
oelpnia, was delivered under assurance
that his words would not get out of
the room. Buffers concluding sem
tence was:
Il very greatly regret this incident
and the fact that my indiscreet remarks
nave caused endorsements to the
Government"
Adams Ends Arrest.
Adams reply said in part:
You are informed that the
Navy Department cannot express too
clearly It's d1Sapproval of the conduct
OF any ofncer or the naval establish
ment In making remarks which tend to
emoarraSs the international relations
81 the government. Such action ON
the part of an officer of your rank and
length of service merits and receiver
the unqualified condemnation of the
navy Department and for their utter
ance' winch you admit, you are here
by reprimanded."
The action automatically relieved
Gen. Butler of the arrest, under which
ne has confined himself to quarters at
Inc Sluantlco station, which he COM
Both the State Department and thu
itanan embassy indicated the incident
mad Deen closed Tor them when. after
the Italian complaint about the speech.
the state Department dispatched An
apology to MuSSolini, which was ac-
cepteo. Secretary StimSon said the
reprimand instead Of court-martiaI was
satisfactory
Hoover Action Rumored.
Whether President Hoover had taken
a hand in Softening the treatment of
the brilliant Marine was not deter
mined. Walter Newton, one of his sec
retaries, said as far as he knew Mr..
hoover mad had nothing to do with
Butler, said he was bound by a gem
(COntinled ON paoa CoI,,vn~. =