From Mr V. E. Ragonesi

In his contribution “Maltese Wartime Internees”, Enzo Cachia states: “In 1933 the local British authorities suspended the self-government Constitution because the education minister had approved the sum of Lm5,000 for the teaching of the Italian language. This meant that the governor dismissed the ruling Nationalist

Party ministers.” (TMIS, 23 January). I shall only deal with this part of his article. What he says is not so, and calls for clarification. Education was not a reserved matter under the 1921 Constitution. The suspension reason mentioned by Mr Cachia was puerile and petty, and hides the truth.

The 1932 general election gave the Nationalist Party a two-thirds majority both in the Lower House and in the Senate. The party had, from the very beginning always fought for self-rule for Malta, and this aspiration was one of the principal aims during the election campaign.

A Nationalist government delegation, led by Prime Minister Ugo Mifsud with Dr Enrico Mizzi, Dr Carmelo Mifsud Bonnici and Prof. Carlo Mallia (aided by Dr Colombos as legal adviser), proceeded to London on 3 July 1932 and formally requested the British government to grant Dominion Status to Malta, as defined in the Westminister Act of 1931.

As the British government, which since 1800 had always sought its interests first and foremost in ruling Malta, would not even consider that request, it thought the best way to kill Nationalist aspirations once and for all was to withdraw the Constitution and subject Malta to strict Crown Colony rule.

Those are the historical facts.

V. E. Ragonesi

VALLETTA