§ 26. Mr. THURTLEasked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs if he has made any representations to the Vatican regarding the interference of the Archbishop of Malta and the Bishop of Gozo with the general election in Malta?
§ 27. Colonel WEDGWOODasked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs whether His Majesty's representative at the Vatican has taken any and, if so, what steps to prevent the interference of the Vatican in the Government of Malta?
§ 28. Mr. MANDERasked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs whether negotiations have recently taken place between the Government and the Vatican with reference to the position in Malta; and what the result has been?
§ Mr. DALTONMy right hon. Friend proposes very shortly to lay as a White Paper correspondence between His Majesty's Government and the Holy See about Maltese affairs.
§ Mr. THURTLEIs my hon. Friend aware that this ecclesiastical interference with the good government of Malta is being supported by the Vatican; and will he take steps to make some strong representations—
§ Mr. SPEAKERThe hon. Member only asked whether representations have been made.
§ Mr. THURTLEIt is not clear from the reply that strong representations have been made. I am asking that strong representations shall be made to the Vatican on the matter.
§ Mr. DALTONHis Majesty's Minister at the Vatican has received the necessary instructions. Those instructions will appear fully in the White Paper, and I would ask my hon. Friend and other hon. Members in other parts of the House to wait until the White Paper is before them. I think they will find that it contains a very full and connected account of all these incidents.
§ Colonel WEDGWOODCan my hon. Friend say whether the Archbishop of Malta and the Bishop of Gozo are British subjects or not?
§ Mr. DALTONNot without notice.
§ 41. Mr. THURTLEasked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs if he has received any information from the Malta Government regarding the reason for the postponement of the general election in Malta?
§ The UNDER-SECRETARY of STATE for the COLONIES (Dr. Drummond Shiels)I have been asked to take this 1438 question. The election has been postponed by the Governor in the exercise of his reserve powers, as it was considered that to allow it to proceed in the present state of public feeling might lead to disturbances.
§ Mr. MACPHERSONCan the hon. Gentleman tell the House whether the statement of the Prime Minister of Malta with reference to the whole situation will be published in the proposed White Paper?
§ Dr. SHIELSThat matter is at present under consideration.