ITALIAN IN MALTA

Hawera Star, Volume LI, 24 May 1932, Page 2

ITALIAN IN MALTA

CONTROVERSY OVER LANGUAGE. SIGNOR GRANDI’S COMMENT. ROME, May 18. Replying to deputies’ questions as to whether representations had been made to Great Britain respecting the use of the Italian language in Malta, the Foreign Minister, Signor Grandi, said that the Italian Government had taken no official step as it was a question concerning, the internal policy ot the British Empire. He added: “I cannot refrain from saying that the Government shares the unanimous feelings of the Italian nation which' has been so painfully struck by regulations framed to diminish a language in which generations have been educated as loyal subjects of the British Empire. On two previous occasions, in 1899 and 1902, when similar regulations were announced, Great Britain eventually countermanded them, vet Italv was then a member of ian alliance, ‘the Triple Alliance, which did not include the British Einpire. Moreover, the two countries had not shed much blood in common as they did in the Great War, nor had they worked for ten years together in the pause of 'peace. “The Italian nation hopes that Great Britain, recalling the greatness of the Empire in which so many live freely and loyally, will consider the language question in all its aspects, also taking into account Italy’s spontaneous sentiments.” The deputies loudly cheered the statement.