Civil rights guaranteed in Malta

CHURCH IS SAFEGUARDED
By Our Political Correspondent
THE Maltese Independence Constitution, agreed this week by Mr. Duncan Sandys and Dr. Borg Olivier, guarantees the spiritual sovereignty of the Church in the Island, but also includes a Human Rights Chapter to guarantee freedom of conscience and expression and to prohibit discrimination. The terms of these safeguards carry a flavour of Pacem in Terris about them. It is understood that clauses relating to
The two modifications, made to the original draft prepared by the Nationalist Premier Borg Olivier, go part of the way to meeting Labour Party leader
Dom Mintoff's demands for clear border lines between the spiritual and temporal sovereignties.
His demands, however, for more specific restraint on the Church's action and influence have not been met. These are regarded as matters (or local legislature rather than for the authors of a constitution.
The result represents a triumph of patience and doggedness on the part of the Maltese Premier in that. in return for granting military bases, Malta is to receive a golden handshake of f50 million over the next 10 years. This is an exceptionally generous settlement, but it is considered appropriate for the George Cross which sacrificed so much for the allied war effort.
Future brighter
Malta's economic future is now brighter than it has been for a very long time. In addition to outright financial aid, the day-to-day economy will benefit considerably from the "return" of the military, naval and air force establishments. With Cyprus and Libya out of the picture, Malta now assumes major importance again as a Mediterranean base. n contrasts The solution contra with Mintoff's Mr. Moff's promise to the Russians that, if he came to power, he would deny Britain a base on the island as a return for Russian economic aid. His recent forecast of bloodshed if the Constitution proved unacceptable is taken as ample justification for Dr. Borg Olivier's policy of strengthening the island's police force and bringing in arms for the purpose. While it is not thought likely that asubstantial number of Maltese would want to create another Cyprus, it has to he remembered that the Maltese character is violent and that it does not take a large force to stage a coup. way to
But the best ay ensure D
peace is for Dr. Borg Olivier's nm Goverent to get down quickly to the task of building up the island's industry now that some basic economic security is assured.
No abdication
Mr. Mintoff's constitutional demands were prompted mainly by his objection to thc ecclesiastical ban on reading his party's papers, and to the ecclesiastical sanctions against voting Labour. The Church is not prepared to abdicate her right to teach on matters of moral right or wrong. Rut the Constitution deals with the matter as follows: I. The Constitution guarantees the Catholic Church the right to exercise her "proper spiritual and Continued on page 8, col. 6