§ 36. Mr. Teelingasked the Secretary of State for the Colonies whether, in view of the recent visits of the Prime Minister of Malta and of the leader of the Progressive Constitutional Party, Miss Strickland, to this country and of the opportunity that was given both to Ministers and hon. Members of this House to hear their views on Maltese questions, he will now invite the Leader of the official Opposition in Malta Dr. Borg Olivier, to visit this country, or to send a representative.
§ Mr. Lennox-BoydThe Prime Minister of Malta is here as leader of a Maltese Government delegation: Miss Strickland came on her own initiative. Whilst, of course, I would be prepared to listen to the views of Dr. Borg Olivier, I do not think it would be appropriate for me to invite him to London.
§ Mr. TeelingDoes not my right hon. Friend think that constitutionally this is rather a difficult problem? If the Prime Minister of a Colony comes here, possibly on Government funds—[HON. MEMBERS: "Why not?"]—why not indeed—he is quite likely to discuss matters also from a party point of view, and if a lady who is very rich is also able to come, is it not hard luck on the real Opposition in Malta, which is not sufficiently well-off to afford to send representatives? In these critical days, might not it be good for us to know what the Opposition has to say?
§ Mr. Lennox-BoydThe subjects of the talks I am having with the Prime Minister of Malta are really only appropriate to negotiations between Governments.