§ MR. SWIFT MACNEILLI beg to ask the Secretary of State for the Colonies, whether, seeing that the elected Members of the Council of Government of Malta addressed a letter to Lord Onslow, the Under Secretary of State for the Colonies, when last December he was the guest of the Governor at Malta, requesting the favour of an interview for the purpose of explaining to him the grievances of the Maltese people on the taxation and the language questions, he will explain why Lord Onslow declined to hold any personal communication with them; and will he state on whose suggestion Lord Onslow thus acted.
§ MR. J. CHAMBERLAINLord Onslow was on a private visit to the 175 Governor of Malta. He informed the elected Members of the Council of Government that I was already in possession of their views as to the alleged grievances of the Maltese people; but that if they had anything to add he would submit it to me if forwarded to him in writing. No such communication was, however, made to him. Lord Onslow's action has my approval.