§ 8. Commander BOWERasked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs whether he can make any statement regarding the two Maltese British subjects, Carmelo Psaila and Robert Ghirlando, recently condemned by an Italian special tribunal in Tripoli on charges of anti-Italian activity?
§ The SECRETARY of STATE for FOREIGN AFFAIRS (Mr. Eden)Yes, Sir. I am happy to be able to inform the House that His Majesty's Ambassador at Rome received information from Tripoli on 12th June that Messrs. Ghirlando and Psaila were to be released on that day. Mr. Ghirlando, who desired to go to Tunis, was to be taken by car to the frontier the same afternoon, while Mr. Psaila was to be placed on board a ship sailing for Malta that evening. I have expressed to His Majesty's Ambassador at Rome the satisfaction of His Majesty's Government at the zeal and ability with which His Excellency has acted in the interests of these two British subjects, and with the manner in which his representations have been received by the Italian Government.
§ Commander BOWERWill the right hon. Gentleman bear in mind that the whole Maltese people will be grateful to His Majesty's Government for the determined and effective action taken in this case?