EXCLUSION OF ITALIAN

Taranaki Daily News, 29 March 1932, Page 7

EXCLUSION OF ITALIAN

MALTA LANGUAGE EDICT ' SIGNOR 01 UNTA’S PROTEST FIERY ATTACK ALLEGED. HIS CLAIMS FOR FASCISM By Telegraph—Press Assn. —Copyright. Malta, March 27. English residents in Malta were incensed at a speech by Signor Giunta, Under-Secretary for the Interior in Italy. Addressing local Fascists en route to Tripoli, Signor Giunta, associating his ministerial colleagues with his remarks, said in reference to the Government’s decision to exclude Italian tuition from the elementary schools in Malta: “If England pulls the cord too hard it will snap. Gannons and a fleet cannot check the rise of the people.” The Foreign Office explains that Signor Giunta’s remarks were made at a private meeting and have no political significance'. Nevertheless, it is felt that Britain’s best method of awakening passionate interest in Italian is issuing the edict against it. Signor Giunta, on departing, bitterly reviled the Italian Consul and secretary to the Maltese Fascists, because they were not wearing black shirts. The Consul pleaded caution in a time of delicate crisis. Signor Giunta is reported to have replied: “You are like sheep. We must teach these English what Fascism is.” The Consul, shocked, exclaimed: “We are in British territory and must be prudent.” ! Signor Giunta angrily declared:' “We are in Italy, on the highway to our African empire. This is the most Fascist highway Italy has.” A message from Tripoli states that Signor Giunta categorically denies that he used the phrases attributed to him.