§ EARL DE LA WARRMy Lords, I think I shall not be intruding unduly on your Lordships' time and attention if I ask you for a very few minutes to give your consideration to the subject of the notice which stands in my name. I believe I am right in stating that for some years past the attention of the Maltese people and also of the Council of Government of Malta has been directed to the subject, and a wish has been expressed that a regiment of Infantry should be raised by recruits from the Island to form a part of the British Army. This was very strongly urged of late by the Council of Government of Malta in an address to His Royal Highness the Duke of Cambridge. I will read a few words from that address to His Royal Highness, who will perhaps show better what is desired than I could impress it in my own words. This Address, which was I 349 believe presented to His Royal Highness during his recent visit to Malta, states—
We feel now encouraged by your Royal Highness' opinion of the fitness of the Maltese for military service"—in reference to some remarks which had fallen from His Royal Highness—To submit what we know to be the present desire of the people of these Islands, namely, that a regiment of Infantry be raised in Malta for service in Her Majesty's Mediterranean possessions. The Militia Regiment would furnish at any time a good number of officers and men trained in military discipline.The Address goes on to say—We venture to remark that considering the loyalty and the trustworthiness of the Maltese, the similarity of their climate to that of Egypt, Cyprus, and Gibraltar, and the familiarity of the Maltese with Arabic and the other languages spoken on the Mediterranean Sea, the formation of a regiment of Maltese may prove very advantageous to Her Majesty's service.I will not make further remarks upon the contents of this Address, though I venture to say there are other considerations in regard to the Islands of Malta which are worthy of your Lordship's attention in connection with this subject. There is a dense, and for many years past, a rapidly increasing population in the Maltese Islands. It is thought and it has been admitted by all who are interested in these matters, and who know the facts, that there is no better outlet for an overgrown population than by providing for its being drawn into the service of the British Army; and, I may add, to open the door of a military career to a loyal people who are much attached to this country is surely one of the best modes of relieving them of their superfluous population. Fully aware that I am no authority on military matters, yet I would submit to your Lordships that this is a subject deserving of your consideration as it would be of great benefit to the population, would increase the prosperity of the Maltese Islands, one of the most important dependencies, I may say, of this country, and would add greatly to the bond which now attaches them to the Throne.Moved—
That a copy of the Address to His Royal Highness the Duke of Cambridge from the Council of Government of Malta, with reference to raising a regiment of Infantry in Malta for service in Her Majesty's Mediterranean Possessions, may be laid upon the Table of the 350 House; also, other Papers relating to the same subject."—(Earl de la Warr.)
§ THE UNDER SECRETARY OF STATE FOR WAR (Earl BROWNLOW)My Lords, there will be no objection whatever to lay on the Table of the House a copy of the Address to His Royal Highness the Commander-in-Chief, which has been asked for by the noble Earl. That Address evinces the strong feeling of loyalty to the Crown felt by the people of Malta, and a strong desire to take part in the defence of the Empire. Her Majesty's Government are fully sensible of the value of the spirit which has prompted the presentation of this Address to His Royal Highness. But advantage, I may point out, has already been taken of this feeling on the part of the Maltese people for the purpose of raising two very valuable corps in the Island. The Malta Artillery, formerly known as the Royal Malta Fencible Regiment, but converted into an Artillery regiment in 1871, took part creditably with the British Army in the Egyptian campaign in 1882. It is a regiment that is recruited to serve in the Island, but with the greatest loyalty they came forward at that time and volunteered for service in Egypt. The Malta Militia is, to a great extent, a new experiment. It was raised on the 1st of April, 1889, and they have in this short time raised themselves to such a state of efficiency that his Royal Highness on inspecting them was able to give them high commendation for their efficiency and smart appearance. The proposal put forward in this Petition is to raise a regiment of Infantry for service in the Mediterranean only. From a military point of view a regiment of Artillery would be more valuable than a regiment of Infantry, and, further, a regiment of Artillery recruited to serve in all parts of the world would be of greater value than a regiment merely raised to serve locally in the Mediterranean, and it has been calculated that the expense of a regiment of Infantry raised in Malta would not differ in any material degree from the expense of a regiment of British Infantry. There is no doubt that at present there is a great dislike on the part of the people of Malta to move very far afield, but it is hoped that possibly this feeling may be got over. I can only say that if this is the case, 351 and, if at some future time it is found possible to raise a regiment of Artillery in Malta prepared to serve in all parts of the world to which British troops may be ordered, I know that the Secretary of State for War will be exceedingly glad to give his most favourable consideration to any advice which may be given him on the subject by his military advisers.
§ THE DUKE OF CAMBRIDGEMy Lords, as this Petition which has been referred to was presented to me during my stay at Malta, I feel bound to make some observations on what has just fallen from the noble Earl the Under Secretary for War. I entirely endorse every word he has said as to the superior value of a regiment available for general service, inasmuch as I am strongly of opinion that local corps are in themselves objectionable, and a wish to serve merely in the Mediterranean is in itself an objectionable idea. Such a regiment should, of course, be available for service in every part of the world. To us, in our position, that is very essential. At the same time I am bound to say that the feeling and spirit of loyalty at Malta is such that I should be very sorry to see anything like a damper put upon it or upon the military sentiment which now exists in the Island. When I was there I was extremely struck with the state of efficiency of the regiment recently raised as stated by the noble Earl who has just sat down. Two years ago authority was given to raise a regiment of Maltese Militia, and whilst I was on the Island that regiment appeared upon parade, I believe in its entirety for the first time. Nothing could be more creditable or satisfactory than the manner in which both officers and men turned out on that occasion, and I can assure your Lordships that as good a regiment of Militia has been produced by the Island of Malta as any one could desire to see even in this country. A feeling existed which first of all took shape in the idea that a second battalion of Maltese Militia might be raised, and if that could be done, I think it would be most desirable. But it went beyond that, and an idea was put forward that a regiment of Maltese Infantry should be formed which might be employed in the Mediterranean. I then made the remark that I thought it was to be regretted that there should be any restriction as to where that regiment 352 should serve, because, as I have said, I am one of those who are strongly of opinion that local corps are very inferior as a rule to corps which would serve in any part of the world. Still, I am bound to assure your Lordships that there is, I believe, a very strong feeling among the Maltese that a regiment might be raised in the Island for service in various parts of the Mediterranean, and I should be very sorry to say a single word which should damp that feeling. I quite agree with the Under Secretary for War that it would be far preferable if we could have a regiment of Artillery in preference to Infantry. We have two very large and important fortresses in the Mediterranean—Malta and Gibraltar —and, of course, the requirement of Artillery in both of those stations is very great. If, therefore, we could raise a regiment of Maltese Artillery, which should be liable to serve in both those places as well as in other portions of the Empire, I think it would be preferable to a line regiment. But I should be sorry to discourage any military sentiment which exists in Malta, and anything that might be said to the contrary I should regret. I am quite convinced that there is a most thoroughly loyal spirit now existing in that Island, and that the fact of a regiment of Militia having already been raised there has greatly added to that loyal spirit. I would further say that, as in Malta there is a very large population, it would be of great advantage that a considerable portion of that population could be made available for military purposes should an emergency arise. I sincerely hope that will never be the case; but should an emergency arise there would be so many more men available for defence, and if they were on service elsewhere, as might be the case, there would be fewer mouths to fill should the military situation involve that Island becoming dependent upon itself. We must always recollect that Malta stands by itself; that it would be difficult to support it from without in case of war, and that every man, woman and child living in Malta would have to be fed during any military emergency which might cut it off from the rest of the world. Therefore the more military spirit you can instil into the people of Malta for the purpose of providing troops not only for their own 353 defence but for foreign service the greater the advantage to the Empire at large. It is on those grounds that I would strongly urge that nothing should be done or said in this country which would damp the military spirit and sentiment which certainly now exist at Malta to a very large extent, and which when I was there was extremely gratifying to see. The warm feeling shown towards myself was I felt shown not to me personally, but was due to the fact that I was to a certain extent during the short period of my stay the representative of the Crown and Government of this country. Anything I could do to assist in spreading that loyalty and that spirit I can assure your Lordships I should be most anxious to do; and therefore I consider it my duty to say that though I think it may be very difficult at this moment—and I think it perhaps rather premature—to enter into any sort of arrangement as to a regiment such as has been suggested, I cannot help hoping it may be possible for the wishes of the Maltese, if they continue in this spirit, to be carried out, and that their services may be made available, but in the form rather of an Artillery corps than that of a regiment of the line. I thought it my duty to express that opinion; I expressed it at the time in Malta, and I am happy to do so on the present occasion.
EARL DE LA WAREMay I ask the noble Lord whether he has reason to suppose or believe that the troops, if a regiment were formed in Malta, would not be willing to go on foreign service?
§ EARL BROWNLOWThe offer was to raise an Infantry regiment for service in the Mediterranean only, and therefore I conclude they would not be willing to serve in other parts of the world.
On Question, agreed.