THE TROUBLES OF THE MALTESE

Dominion, Volume 12, Issue 285, 28 August 1919, Page 6

THE TROUBLES OF THE MALTESE

AN AGITATION IN THE MEDITERRANEAN

"LIKE IRELAND, ALWAYS DISCONTENTED"

.. Malta y .like Ireland, always discontented (writes a correspondent of tiio "Morning Post"). Before tho war the. Italians oarricd on a good deal of propaganda in tho country, tlie Gerinans also took a hand in it, One German, who had baon naturalised for years, was a prisoner while I was on duty there on a charge of Another, nominally Maltese, but really an Aus'trian.waa aoti'vely assisting the Germans on' the Bagdad railway. Both were convioted. Tho German had plans, hidden in his strong box at the bank, ready for use by hia countrymen when they should take possession of the island. . Lord Methuen, who has just returned tome, was a very kindly Governor, who appreciated the Maltese position, but Many of the British officers and officials sinned through ignorance, and treated the inhabitants as though they were a ■ conquered race. The fact is that Malta 'is a dependency, just as India is, and is the only part of the Empire which was joined to the Crown on the petition of its people universally expressed. We wore so slwrt-sighted after the l Napoleonic wars as to wish to get rid of the place, and Maltese deputations had to visit London and present their case before wo deoided to retain it. For some years they have been demanding "Malta for the Maltese." Never in history has tho island been ruled by its own people. At present its local affairs are carried on' by an Executive Council, partly nominated, partly elected. It is a point of honour with the Maltese not to serve on the Council because it is not entirely elected.. The Maltese have, like the Irish, a curious habit of cutting off their nose'to spite tlioir face. In fact, tho resemblance between the two peoples supports the theory that both are descendants of Phoenician stock, and, aocording to the Anglo-Israel theory, are the Canaanites who were "to be a thorn in the side of the Israelites for ,ever more," because they did not destroy them root and branch.

Mora Catholic Than tho Pope, The Maltese, lite tho Irish, are more Catholic than the Pope. Indeed, Malta .Is the only -part of the British Dominions where the Roman Catholic religion is that of tho State, and-where, in the great Cathedral of St. John, thero is in the Sanctuary a Throne which can only be used.by tho King of England. Again, the ietters "g!r" are silent in both languages ; and there , are other affinities. Many Maltese bear Irish names. They .are descendants, of Irish 6oldiers who •married native women. These are fond of serving in the Police Force, which is a military body on the lines of the lfoyal Irish Constabulary. Tie disturbances going onNthere are largely due to economic causes. In normal times living is very cheap in the island, and the pay of a working man, i though onlj Is. 3d. a day, was sufficient. Prices ha<Trisen two years ago while I was .there,.-but everyone was contented - because our troops, siolc and'wounded Australians from the East and Gallipob, 'and the offioers'and men of tho Trench- and our own Fleet, were burin" up the.profluoa. of the island at high -pro"-'-fits,.,, These sources of income have gone Applies are scarce, while 110 shipping, is availablo to oarry away the oranges, new potatoes, eto., which are the principal exports. Thejo are also local ednca£ional_troubles. and "In these the ■ priests have their share. In fact, the "..priests and "religious persons" form a • large proportion oFtfio population. Taxais light, and "there are no excise duties. Inland postage costs -Jd., and a hard-worked coin is a "grain," e<iual to one-third. of a farthing. For a penny a Maltese housewife used to bo able to Wv : ;<%■< Ml; now it costs double and treble. • •'• "ho Malteso soldiers have done good pork in the war, especially the labour , 'battalions. Finally, so highly is the Church tonoured that, *v'hi 1(1 the Governor has the giiard in the. famous guard-room oppo- • h™ me Palace turned out twice a day jn his honour it has to turn out every time the Archbishop passes.