Bentwich, Palestine Attorney-general, Shot by Arab; Commission, Arab Executive, Arab, British, Jewis

Deep horror, utter detestation and unqualified condemnation for the attack on Norman Bentwich, Palestine attorney-general, were expressed today by William Henry Stoker, Arab counsel, at the opening of the Inquiry Commission’s hearing, who said that he, Silly and the other Arab counsel as well as the Arab Executive feel deep concern over the outrage and are grateful that the attempt on Bentwich’s life was unsuccessful.

The Arab Executive telephoned these sentiments to Sir John Chancellor, the High Commissioner, and an Arab delegation this morning visited Bentwich in the hospital. Preedy, government counsel, expressed personally and on behalf of the Palestine government, his horror at the deed. Sir Boyd Merriman, Jewish counsel, added his own (Continued on Page 4)

The chairman of the Inquiry Commission on behalf of himself and the Commission referred to the attack as horrible, detestable, foolish and a wicked crime, saying that such acts cannot benefit the community to which the assassin belongs and can only tend to prejudice their case in the eyes of the entire world, although it will not affect the feelings of the Commission itself who take the view that the act was that of a foolish and irresponsible person and not the result of instigation.

That the police do not fully share Shaw’s view is shown by the detention of two prominent Moslems. Maughanam, secretary of the Arab Executive, today intimated to the Jewish Telegraphic Agency correspondent that Bentwich’s assailant had a personal grudge because the assailant’s father and brother had been imprisoned for the killing of his sister. The assailant himself had been sentenced to five years in prison for another crime but had been paroled owing to his youth. His conviction for the present offense is thought circle in official circles.