An acrimonious controversy reminiscent of the Inquiry Commission hearings, occurred during Chilik Weizmann’s libel suit on behalf of Nitram, an explosives concern, against the Arab paper “Felestin” for insinuating that the company dealt uncontrolledly in explosives and asking whether this was less dangerous than arms smuggling.
Weizmann and his assistant, Scott, appeared before the assistant district commissioner in Jaffa, with Maughanem defending the “Felestin.” Maughanem tried to oinveigle Weizmann into a political discussion by questioning him about his relationship to Chaim Weizmann, his hatred for the Arabs and the Arab press.
Maughanem finally pleaded that the “Felestin’s” allegation was not libelous. A judgment is due March 24, when Weizmann’s personal action against the paper commences.
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The Archive of the Jewish Telegraphic Agency includes articles published from 1923 to 2008. Archive stories reflect the journalistic standards and practices of the time they were published.
