§ *MR. ESSEX (Gloucestershire, Cirencester)I beg to ask the Under-Secretary of State for the Colonies whether Protestant mission services in Malta were disallowed by the Governor of the Island at the demand of the Roman Catholic Archbishop of Malta; and, if so, will he 956 state why this refusal of religious liberty was made.
§ MR. SILCOCK (Somersetshire, Wells)I beg also to ask the Under-Secretary of State for the Colonies whether he is aware that the Governor of Malta recently took steps to prevent the Rev. J. McNeill, a well-known Presbyterian minister, from continuing to hold religious services in the Theatre Royal, Valetta; whether he will furnish the House with an explanation of this action; and whether he can assure the House that the Government will take immediate steps to safeguard the right of free speech in this portion of the Empire.
§ *MR. CHURCHILLThe Governor of Malta apparently fearing that the continuance of the mission services referred to by the hon. Members for the Wells and Cirencester Divisions would lead to breaches of the peace, decided in the exercise of his discretion, as the authority responsible for the peace and good order of Malta, that the services should be stopped a day earlier than was originally intended, and the Secretary of State did not see any sufficient reason to criticise the Governor's action in the matter.
§ MR. SLOANasked whether it was a fact that permission was given, and that it was not until opposition came from the Roman Catholic Archbishop that the permission was withdrawn.
§ *MR. CHURCHILLI believe that statement is not altogether out of harmony with the facts.
§ MR. SLOANasked whether that was a sufficient reason for the cessation of the right of this particular person.
§ *MR. CHURCHILLI think it is a matter for the Governor to decide in his discretion, and the Secretary of State does not feel called upon to take any action.