§ MR. T. M. HEALYI beg to ask the Under Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs with reference to the following passages respecting the Maltese clergy, which occur in a Despatch from Sir Lintorn Simmons to Lord Salisbury, dated 12th December, 1889, describing his interview with the Papal Secretary of State:— 508
The Carninal seemed surprised at the state of ignorance of the priesthood, and expressed an opinion that measures must be taken to improve their education,and to the following, which occurs in the Despatch of 23rd December:—In discussing the subject of the education in the English language of those who will officiate as clergy in Malta, and of their instruction as to the condition under which the island is governed, I informed Cardinal Ram-polla, generally, of the sadly ignorant state of the priesthood in the island;whether Sir Lintorn Simmons has been requested to give the grounds for these statements reflecting on the education of the Catholic priesthood; and whether the letter, dated 20th June, from Cardinal Rampolla to Monsignor Pace, Bishop of Malta, in which the following passage occurs:—His Holiness is well satisfied at receiving the information which you furnish relative to the education of your clergy,has been communicated to Sir Lintorn Simmons or Her Majesty's Government?
§ * SIR J. FERGUSSONI understand that Sir Lintorn Simmons's statement was founded on the Report of the Director of Education, an extract from which had been placed in the hands of Cardinal Rampolla. Cardinal Rampolla's letter to Monsignor Pace has not been communicated either to the Foreign Office or Colonial Office.
§ MR. T. M. HEALYWill any apology be sent to the Maltese priesthood for this accusation of ignorance brought against them?
§ * SIR J. FERGUSSONI have already referred the hon. Member to the authority for the statement of the special Ambassador.
§ Subsequently,
§ MR. T. M. HEALYI am very reluctant to forestall a discussion by moving the adjournment in consequence of the very curt answer of the right hon. Baronet the Under Secretary for Foreign Affairs. If the right hon. Gentleman can assure the House that some endeavour will be made to rectify the matter by making an attempt to procure the letter of Rampolla, I will certainly defer the Motion. I would suggest that the Cardinal's letter ought to be obtained by the Government.
§ * MR. W. H. SMITHI am sure it would be very far, indeed, from the wishes of Her Majesty's Government to 509 cast any reflection upon any section of Her Majesty's subjects, and I will endeavour to get information upon the subject by next Thursday.
§ MR. SUMMERS (Huddersfield)I beg to ask the First Lord of the Treasury whether he is aware that Section 29 of the Letters Patent of the Constitution of Malta (12th December 1887) provides that
All votes of public money shall, if challenged, be determined by a majority of the votes of the elected members present, and the votes of the official members shall not be recorded on such questions;and whether, in view of the fact that a majority of the elected members of the Council of Government in Malta is opposed to the payment of the expenses connected with the Mission of Sir Lintorn Simmons to the Vatican out of the revenues of Malta, he will consent to place upon the Estimates a Vote for the Mission in question?
§ * MR. W. H. SMITHThe hon. Member is correct in his statement as to Section 29 of the Letters Patent. It will not be necessary to place a Vote upon the Estimates; for if the hon. Member will refer to Section 39 of the Letters Patent and the Schedule, he will see that £1,000 a year is at the disposal of the Government for special services under the title "Civil Contingencies."