§ 34. Commander Nobleasked the Secretary of State for the Colonies if he will make a statement on his recent discussions with the Government of Malta.
§ The Secretary of State for the Colonies (Mr. Creech Jones)A full statement on the conversations with the Malta Government Delegation to London was issued from the Colonial Office on 1st September and appeared in the Press on 2nd September. An earlier statement had been issued on 16th August describing the attitude which His Majesty's Government had taken in face of the Malta Cabinet memorandum of 6th August, which was subsequently withdrawn by the Maltese Prime Minister, Dr. Boffa. There is little to add to the account contained in those announcements. After the second statement had been issued I had further talks with Dr. Boffa, as a result of which I wrote to him recording the position reached and inviting him to send me, after consultation with his colleagues in Malta, his further views on some of the subjects discussed. Dr. Boffa then returned to Malta but has not yet approached me again.
§ Sir W. SmithersMay I ask whether in all these negotiations concerning the people of Malta the right hon. Gentleman will always remember that Malta did get the George Cross?