Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1930-05-23
MALTESE PREMIER,
FIRED ON, ESCAPES
AS SHOT GOES Wild
WouId-Be Assassin, Seized
by Police, Is Linked With
Nationalist Party.
POLITICO-RELlGIOUS
ROW INVOLVES MINISTER
Controversy Made More Acute by
Roman Catholic Order Forbidding
Vote for Government.
By the Associated Press.

BY the Associated Press.
VALETTA, Malta, May 23.-An at
tempt was made today to assassinate
Lord Strickland of Sizergh, prime min
lister of the Maltese government. He
was fired at point blank, but was not
hurt.
A man named Miller was seized by
the police, charged with the shooting
Further identification of the prisoner
awaited his examination.
The attempted assassination occurred
as Strickland, accompanied by police
superintendent, was entering the Court
of Appeal to attend a case wherein the
prime minister appears as the plaintiff
and in which the Nationalist are at
tempting to invadidate all the laws
passed by the government.
Two Shots Fired Into Air.
AS the prime minister stepped in, ne
was fired at with revolver from a few
yards.
The bullet missed, but Strickland ap-
peared momentarily dazed.
ant. The next two shots went into the
air.
Strickland quickly recovered his COM
posture and with a smile, watched the
accused led away.
Crowds Immediately surrounded the
prime minister and gave him frenzied
ovation.
Prime Minister Strickland's assailant
was reported to have played a prom
.a~>Ar ,Ia1 Lob %~nA
June, 1919, when he was arrested for
tearing UP union Jack"
Police Guard City.
The excitement began to quiet down
as the day passed. but the police re.
manned on duty in force il the belief
that trouble might break out at any
moment. Telephone inquiries were
pouring into the capital from all over
the island and it was apparent 70 the
authorities that indignation was nigh
over the attempted killing OF the
A former Nationalist minister only
escaped rough handling by the crowds
through the Intervention Of the police.
When Lord Strickland motored back
to his offlcial residence he was greeted
enthusiastically in the streets.
After the shooting, wave OF great
excitement swept through the town.
The news Of the attempted assassina-
ton spread quickly throughout the
island and people began Hooking by
scores into Valetta.
Police achievements were summoned
in the fear that Nationalist disorders
would be staged.
Miller, the prisoner, is supporter
of the Nationalist party.
Great British Naval Base.
Malta is a British island possession
In the Mediterranean, and Is one OF the
most important British naval bases.
It has a governor general, and q legiS-
lature, which functions according TO
ordinary parliamentary procedure.
Recent dispatches have told OF trou-
BILE between the state and Catholic
church on the island.
It was said In debate in the House
of Commons In London that the Catho-
lie Archbishop Of Malta had announced
that any one voting for Lord Strick-
land. prime minister, or any members
of the constitutional party during the
Forthcoming elections would be COM
uniting a mortal sin.
Lord Strickland, himself Cathollc,
was said to have refused to allow q
Franciscan priest, who was brltlsn
citizen, to be transferred against MS
will to Sicily on orders of the superior
of the community in Malta. The gov
eminent asserted that the transfer was
ordered on political grounds.
At the time it was understood the
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