No Jewish Attempt on Mufti’s Life, Commons is Assured

The Palestine Government is satisfied that there was no Jewish attempt on the life of Grand Mufti Haj Amin el Husseini, it was reported to Commons today, and a police communique has been issued “to avoid extravagant rumors leading to outrages and difficulties.”

The statement was made by William G.A. Ormsby-Gore, the Colonial Secretary, in reply to a question by Col. Josiah Wedgwood, Laborite, concerning the incident in Jerusalem last Saturday night when shots were said to have been fired across the road just before the Mufti passed.

Mr. Ormsby-Gore stated:

“A telegraphic report from High Commissioner Sir Arthur Grenfell Wauchope received yesterday states that the evidence regarding this incident is conflicting and cannot as yet be reconciled, but the facts appear as follows:

“The Mufti was returning via Wadijoz to St. Stephen’s Gate at eight p.m. Saturday when he noticed a car containing Jews standing in the road. The Mufti states his companions reported to him that one of the Jews had a revolver.

“The Mufti, fearing an attempt on his life, instructed his servants to investigate, but it was not established whether any of the Jews had been in actual possession of a revolver. There was not a fracas and no one was injured. The respective parties of the Jews and Arabs made their complaints to different stations and interrogation is being continued.

“In a later telegram Wauchope reports the police are fully satisfied the occupants of the car had no intention of attacking anyone.”

Asked by Col. Wedgwood if it was necessary for the Mufti to have a bodyguard, the Colonial Secretary said it was “probably very necessary for the Mufti to have a bodyguard and he has had one for some time.”

“A police communique was issued to avoid extravagant rumors leading to outrages and difficulties,” Mr. Ormsby-Goro added.