“Malta Now Like Cyprus In 1955”

Press, Volume XCVIII, Issue 28800, 22 January 1959, Page 11

“Malta Now Like Cyprus In 1955”

(N.Z. Press Association—Copyright)

(Rec. 9 p.m.)

LONDON, Jariuary 21,

Civil strife and bloodshed in Malta were predicted today by a “Daily Express” foreign correspondent in a dispatch from Valetta.

He likened the situation to that in Cyprus in 1955, just before the Greek Cypriot leader, Archbishop Makarios, gave his Eoka men the signal to shoot down all “traitor” Cypriots who did not agree with him and failed to join in the boycott of the British “oppressors.” In Malta, exactly the same ominous slogans could be heard as in Cyprus—“down with collaborators” and “death to the traitors who sit with the British,” the correspondent said. The only difference was that, where in Cyprus a priest was the leader, fan Malta it was an Pxfordeducated labour leader.

A campaign Of intimidation was in full force. “Black lists'* were being compiled with threats of “secret trials” and retribution “when he takes over.*’ The Nationalist leader, Dr. Borg Olivier, had publicly advised the British Governor (Sir Robert to insure the livei of all Maltese daring to serve on'his council. And the Labour demagogue, Mr Dom Mintoff, the main protagonist of independence, talked of the resort to violence in almost the same words once used by Makarios in Cyprus, the correspondent said. “The one possibility of violence in Malta,” he quoted Mintoff as saying, “is that the British deliberately provoke it by their police tactics.” The correspondent described this as the old pretext of the 'outlaw terrorist” The real trouble in Malta, would begin when the British firm, Bailey’s, took over the Navy’s extensive dockyard there to run it as a commercial enterprise, s the correspondent said. There would be go-slows and strikes. He quoted Mr Mintoff as saying: “We insist on getting our freedom and independence now. And believe me, we shall get it”

Montgomery “Under Fire” Again

(Rec. 11.30 p.m.) LONDON, January 21

Field-Marshal Viscount Montgomery came under Are from Blackpool Town Councillors yesterday for refusing to open a new school named after him, according to the “Daily Mail.”

In November h,e said he was unable to open the £142,000 Montgomery secondary modern school, so the ceremony was postponed. Now he has told the town’s education committee he cannot visit Blackpool this year.