12 APRIL 1913, Page 3

Senor J. C. Arena, the managing director of the Peruvian

Amazon Company, appeared before the Parliamentary Com- mittee appointed to inquire into the Putumayo atrocities. He put in a long statement denying that the cruelties practised took place with his knowledge, disclaiming responsi- bility, and declaring that until he heard the gist of Sir Roger Casement's report he genuinely believed that the accusations in Truth were unfounded. In his evidence, which occupied the whole of three days' sittings, Senor Arana admitted that the allegations as to the atrocities were in the main true, though there had been a great deal of exaggeration, but the directors had no knowledge of what was taking place.