§ 27. Lieut. - Commander FLETCHERasked the Secretary of State for the Colonies what are the circumstances which have led to the Institute of Italian Culture in Malta being closed by order of the Malta Government: and why the Italian Consul has left Malta?
§ The SECRETARY of STATE for the COLONIES (Mr. Ormsby-Gore)The institute was closed because the. Government was satisfied that it had exceeded the scope of the legitimate functions for which it was established and had become the centre of undesirable activities. The 2029 withdrawal of the Consul-General followed upon the recent proceedings before the Maltese courts in which two Maltese were found guilty of offences against the Official Secrets Act. Reports of these proceedings have already appeared in the Press, and I need hardly recapitulate them.
§ Lieut.-Commander FLETCHERWill the right hon. Gentleman consider taking equally effective and decisive action where Italian propaganda is concerned in Palestine?