§ Mr. J. Ameryasked the Secretary of State for the Colonies what considertions Her Majesty's Government have in mind to enable them to determine whether the views of the Maltese people at the coming referendum have been expressed clearly and unmistakably.
§ Mr. Lennox-BoydWhile Her Majesty's Government are, of course, now giving consideration to the Report of the Round Table Conference, the holding and conduct of a referendum in Malta is the responsibility of the Maltese Government. When the House debates the matter after the referendum, it will wish to weigh carefully all the relevant factors. These will, no doubt, include the fact that a referendum has been held in Malta; the form of the referendum questions; the opportunities which all sides in Malta have had of putting their case fully and freely on the platform, over the wireless, or in the Press; the way the polling was conducted; and, of course, the results of the referendum.
By these and other tests, the House will no doubt be able to form an opinion whether the Maltese people have clearly and unmistakably expressed their views, and will take this into account in deciding its attitude towards the Report of the Round Table Conference as a whole.