TROUBLE AT MALTA.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXIX, Issue 21142, 28 March 1932, Page 9

TROUBLE AT MALTA.

LANGUAGE CONTROVERSY. VEILED THREAT TO BRITAIN. (Received March 27, 5.5 p.m.) LONDON, March 2G. Despatches from Malta state that British residents are incensed by a speech made by Signor Giunta, Under-Secretary of the Interior in Italy. In ail address to local. Fascists on his way to Tripoli Signor Giunta', associating his Ministerial colleagues with his remarks, referred to the Maltese Government's decision to exclude the Italian language from tuition in the elementary schools. He said: "If Britain pulls the cord too hard it will snap. Cannons and the fleet cannot check the rise of the people." The actual recommendation is that the Italian tongue should be taught in the secondary schools and English and Maltese in the elementary schools. A message from the Foreign Office at Home explains that Signor Giunta's remarks were made at a private meeting and have no political significance. Nevertheless it is felt in Italy that Britain's best method of awakening passionate interest. in the Italian language is to pass an edict against it. The ex-Prime Minister of Malta, Lord Strickland, before returning there, said the working people "were glad their children 110 longer would bo subject to the ridiculous tyranny of learning Italian as well as English in the elementary schools.