Later in the evening the Maltese question was raised by
Mr. Boland, who urged. that the substitution of English for Italian in the Law Courts after a certain period has elapsed —that is all that is meant by suppression of the Italian language—was an act of tyranny, and ought not to be proceeded with. Mr. Boland also accused the authorities of having suppressed meetings held to protest against the action of the Government. Mr. Chamberlain in his reply had no difficulty in showing how exaggerated were the charges brought against the Colonial Office. Instead of suppressing a meeting, the authorities had actually run special trains to take people to it. Mr. Chamberlain con- tinned to deal with the whole question in a most reasonable and conciliatory spirit, and soon disposed of the ridiculous figment that Italian had been persecuted. As regards educa- tion, the Maltese had been given an absolutely free choice whether their children should learn English or Italian-- Maltese, the real language of the island, is taught in any case —with the result that in spite of the great pressure put on them by the local politicians, who are opposed to English, some 80 per cent have chosen English. As to suppression, all that had been done was to issue a proclamation declaring that in eighteen years' time English should be substituted in the Courts for Italian.
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