§ 37. Mr. Bottomleyasked the Secretary of State for Commonwealth Relations and the Colonies if he will make a statement about his talks with the Prime Minister of Malta.
§ 39. Mr. Dribergasked the Secretary of State for Commonwealth Relations and the Colonies if he will make a statement on his recent talks with the Prime Minister of Malta, and on the results of the recent constitutional referendum.
§ Mr. SandysI am at present having talks with the Prime Minister of Malta and I will make a full statement as soon as possible.
§ Mr. BottomleyWe shall await this statement, but in the meantime may I ask the right hon. Gentleman whether any further consideration has been given to the suggestion that perhaps the referendum has shown that elections before independence are desirable?
§ Mr. SandysThe right hon. Gentleman will not press me to anticipate my statement.
§ Mr. DribergCan the right hon. Gentleman say roughly how long we shall have to wait for that statement? Is it a matter of weeks or a matter of days?
§ Mr. SandysMore than days—weeks; or a week, maybe. But perhaps I could make this clear, to avoid any misunderstanding: the British Government's offer of early independence to Malta naturally stands, but the constitutional question remains to be resolved, and it is on this that I am having these talks with the Prime Minister of Malta.