Miscellaneous - This Day That Age   

dated February 15, 1956: The Malta referendum

The result of the Maltese referendum on the question of integrating the island with Britain and sending three members to the British Parliament was announced on February 14 as 67,607 votes in favour and 20,177 against. There were also 2,559 invalid votes. By the free wish of the Maltese people, Malta was annexed to the British Crown as a diarchy under the Treaty of Paris of 1814. Mr. Don Mintoff, Malta's Prime Minister, thus won for his integration plan 74.8 per cent of the 90,343 votes cast and 44.5 of the total electorate of 152,000. After the vote in favour of integration with Britain, Mr. Mintoff would not comment, but it was understood that he regards the figures as a victory and vote of confidence. However, a spokesman for Archbishop Gonzi said, "This is not a clear expression of the wishes of the people which the round-table conference had stipulated." The Catholics had sought a postponement of the referendum pending written guarantees from Britain that religious freedom on the island would be respected.

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