HC Deb 02 December 1931 vol 260 c1058
3. Mr. SMITHERS

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies what is the reason for the appointment of Mr. H. H. Trusted in the place of Mr. Bentwich as Attorney-General in Palestine; whether Mr. Bentwich will continue in the employment of His Majesty's Government; and, if so, in what capacity?

Sir P. CUNLIFFE-LISTER

I would refer my hon. Friend to the reply given by my predecessor to the right hon. and gallant Member for Newcastle-under-Lyme (Colonel Wedgwood) on the 23rd September last.

Mr. SMITHERS

Is it a fact that Mr. Bentwich was relieved of the appointment because of his too close association with the subversive propaganda of the Soviet Government?

Sir P. CUNLIFFE-LISTER

No. It was a decision taken previous to my time, but there is no sort of foundation for that statement.

Mr. SMITHERS

Will my right hon. Friend make further inquiries into this subject, with a view to Mr. Bentwich's future appointment?

Sir P. CUNLIFFE-LISTER

When the question was put on the Order Paper, I did make inquiries as to all that had happened in the past, aid there has never been any sort of suggestion of that kind.

Colonel WEDGWOOD

Surely the right hon. Gentleman is aware that Mr. Norman Bentwich is the man the revolutionaries actually shot and tried to assassinate?