Malta The Government's decision to suspend the Constitution in Malta,
which was announced in the House of Commons on Tuesday, was the only right one in the circumstances. In no other way could the stalemate be ended. It was useless to make a pretence of carrying on Constitutional government which had in fact been held up by the unwarrantable intervention of the Vatican. That the suspension of the Constitution is only temporary is indicated by the association of Ministers, as a body of advisers, with the Governor, who will rule Malta for the present. It should be noted that Lord Strickland, who as Prime Minister was boycotted by the Vatican, is also invited to co-operate with the Governor as adviser. This is a clear enough answer to the Vatican's arrogant demand for his supersession. The British Government have been firm and wise at the same time. As the vast majority of Maltese voters obey their spiritual rulers in politics, it would have been foolish not- to recognize that the deadlock was a reality and that the only thing worth doing was to find the quickest way of ending it. This may be -done be defining the position of the Church as soon as passions have had time to cool.
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