New Constitution for Malta The new Constitution for Malta probably
goes as far as it is at present safe to go in restoring to the Maltese some say in the government of their island. It is nearly five years since the follies of a Nationalist Ministry compelled Great Britain to suspend responsible government and substitute Crown Colony administration. Malta's regime must inevitably be conditioned by the circumstance that it is a great British fortress and naval base ; and in the present condition of Mediterranean affairs it would be absurd to expose it once more to the upsets of an Italian agitation masquerading as Maltese Nationalism. The new Constitution sets up a legis- lature of 20 members, of which ten will be elected, while ten are to be official or unofficial nominees of the Governor. The powers of the legislature will be limited in various ways ; and in particular the language question, which in the past was Italy's chief lever for disorganising the island, will be excluded from the scope of its discussions.
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