Britain To Rule Malta; Constitution Revoked

Press, Volume XCVIII, Issue 28823, 18 February 1959, Page 13

Britain To Rule Malta; Constitution Revoked

(IV.Z. Press Association—Copy right j

(Rec. 10 p.m.) LONDON, February 17. The House of Commons, by 273 votes to 220, last night approved plans to revoke Malta’s Constitution.

It passed a bill embodying the Government’s plans revoking the Constitution and empowering the Governor to rule Malta with the help of a nominated council. The bill now goes to the House of Lords.

The decision to govern Malta by direct rule is the result of the resignation last April of Mr Dom Mintoff. Premier and leader of the Malta Labour Party, and the failure of constitutional talks in London between the Colonial Secretary (Mr A. T. LennoxBoyd) and Matta's political leaders.

Mr - Mintoff is now demanding independence for the island. Mr James Griffiths, a former Labour Colonial Secretary, said in the Commons, that. the. Opposition understood Malta’s desire to end its colonial status.

“We accept this as our policy as much as theirs,” he said. The people of Malta would not be content to go on for any length of time under a Constitution in which they had no voice, he added.

Integration of Malta with Britain, the policy of three years ago, was hot dead. It was still a possibility, he said. The only alternative to integration was some form of independence within the Commonwealth.

The Colonial Undersecretary, Mr Julian Amery, said the economic problems of independence were enormous, The Government could not force integration on a people, but integration remained a valid possibility.

CRISIS IN BURMA

Ne Win “Respects Democracy”

(Rec. 9.30 p.m.) RANGOON (Burma), Feb. 16.

General Ne Win, who resigned as Prime Minister three days ago, said today that if reappointed to the post he would hold fair and free elections as soon as possible.

Ije told the Chamber of Deputies, which was discussing his resignation, that he respected Parliamentary democracy, and “if I and my followers stayed long in power it might corrupt us.” The general said his policy was one of nationalism without leaning towards either the Eastern or Western bloc.

When he resigned, the General told the Chamber he would only agree to re-election if the section of the Constitution debarring nonmembers of Parliament from holding ministerial office for more than six consecutive months was amended.

the end we shall win and the British will give up," he told a cheering crowd Of 600 Africans ip African mine quarters at Chingola. ’

Mr Sipalo said 1959 was a year when. Africans decided their fate —.the choice was either perpetual English iotnination or selfgovernment now. “We must have self-govern-ment and a democratic constitution now in Northern Rhodesia We must get it before 1960 or else face the prospect of dominion status. . And that means perpetual subjugation to the British,” he said.

The Zambia African National Congress is a breakaway group from the powerful Northern African National Congress.

Mr Sipalo said: “They treated us like' dogs for years and its time now—before the 1960 talks —that these dogs should show the British their teeth. ...

“We do not want trouble but if they do not give us freedom we must take it at all costs. . .

“Let’s tell the whites they are sitting on a political volcano "