SHADOWS OVER MALTA

Sig,-The Executive Committee of the Malta Labour Party read with regret the allegations made by Mr. Douglas Hyde in his article. "Shadows Over Malta," published in THE CATHOLIC HERALD of September 26, 1952.
, Being a Catholic Party and professing in all its actions and ideals the teachings of the Holy Church, the Malta Labcrur Party failed to understand the reasons which led Mr. Hyde to instil in the minds of your readers the doubt or perhaps the certainty of Communist activities on the part of this movement.
The Malta Labour Party has always fought against the infiltration of Communism whether of the Russian type or any other later modification.
The innuendos of Mr. Douglas Hyde have been the more resented lbecause the Malta Labour Party is the only barrier against Communism. Should the Malta Labour Party be strangled. a Communist Party will rise to take its place. By his article Mr. Douglas Hyde has done a great service not only to the Conservative diehards on this Island, but aho to the very few Communists who hope to see this movement and its leaders smasihed in order to raise their hidden banners on the wins.
Acquiescence in the policies of neglect and racial discrimination followed so far by the Colonial Office is not in conformity with the teachings of our Church. To rebel against injustices from whatever quarter does not deserve the stigma of either "'conscious or unconscious Communist influence."
Mr. Hyde spent nine days in Malta. During that time be engaged no member of the Malta Labour Party in political discussion. Neither has he made the slightest reference to the Malta Labour Party in his numerous speeches. On the contrary, when asked for his opinion on the local political situation with great modesty he professed complete ignorance.
Why he chose to, attack this movement from afar we cao only let your readers draw their own conclusions.
D. M. Cremona, General Secretary, Malta Labour Party. 'Valletta, Malta.
Douglas Hyde comments on this letter in his column oil page 4.