HC Deb 05 July 1906 vol 160 cc218-20
MR. T. L. CORBETT (Down, N.)

I beg to ask the Under-Secretary of State for the Colonies whether the Government have sanctioned the action of the Governor of Malta, as set forth in the correspondence recently laid upon the Table of the House, in preventing the Rev. John McNeill continuing his religious services at the request of the Roman Catholic Archbishop of Malta.

MR. CHURCHILL

As I stated in reply to another Question on June 13th,† the Governor, as the authority responsible for the peace and good order of Malta, exercised his own discretion in the matter of the religious services referred to by the hon. Member, but I will add that, in the opinion of the Secretary of State, the arrangements for preserving the peace and order of Malta should be sufficient to enable all law-abiding persons at all times to perform whatever religious exercises they may choose, irrespective of creed or sect, and instructions have been given with that intention.

MR. T. L. CORBETT

asked whether freedom was to be accorded for all meetings held within doors in future.

MR. CHURCHILL

said he had nothing to add to his Answer.

MR. T. L. CORBETT

The Answer is no answer at all.

MR. CHURCHILL

I think it is, and that if the hon. Member will study it in the report he will find it made clear even to his comprehension.

MR. T. L. CORBETT

Are Protestant meetings to be allowed to be held indoors in future or are they not?

MR. BELLOC (Salford, S.)

asked whether there was not a definite compact between the people of Malta and the Government of this country to this effect.

MR. CHURCHILL

said he believed that that was not the case, but the British Government had undertaken to respect the religion of the Maltese and not to subvert it, and it was the intention of the Government that there should be equal treatment as between persons of all religious denominations.

MR. SLOAN (Belfast, S.)

asked whether representations had been made to the Governor of Malta that the dis † See (4) Debates, clviii., 956. abilities of Protestants should be removed at once.

MR. CHURCHILL

I understand that instructions have been given with that intention.

MR. T. L. CORBETT

asked the hon. Gentleman whether he would lay on the Table of the House the communication made to the Governor of Malta.

MR. A. J. BALFOUR (City of London)

I rise to a point of order, Sir. The Under-Secretary of State for the Colonies, in answer to a supplementary Question, observed that he believed that his written Answer would be clear even to the intelligence of the hon. Gentleman behind me. I wish to ask you, Sir, whether it is in accordance with the traditions of this House that that kind of reply should be given by a Minister of the Crown.

MR. SPEAKER

I cannot say that the expression was unparliamentary, although it was certainly provocative and somewhat offensive.

MR. T. L. CORBETT

Will the hon. Gentleman be good enough to answer my Question, whether the communication of the Government to the Governor of Malta will be laid on the Table of the House?

MR. CHURCHILL

Perhaps the hon. Gentleman will give me notice of that.