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 is not corrected, I shall stand by it.

Are Her Majesty's Government now intent on rushing ahead with the in auguration of this Federation against the opposition of Indonesia and possibly of the Philippines and without giving the Secretary-General proper time to conduct the investigations which were promised by the Tunku of Malaya? If Her Majesty's Government are not able to give an assurance that the date for the inauguration will be postponed long enough to enable the United Nations investigation to take place, we shall be forced to conclude that once again Her Majesty's Government are prepared to use the United Nations to cover up—

Mr. Speaker I had some hopes, in the interests of the hon. Member, that at that point he was about to say that in certain circumstances he would oppose the Motion. He will have to bring his observations somewhere in relation to the Motion.

Mr. Warbey I was about to do that, Mr. Speaker. I recognise that in my last sentence I was possibly straying a little outside the terms of the Motion in expressing my own view of what should happen.

I conclude by saying—[HON. MEMBERS: "Hear, hear."] I could go on for quite a long time if hon. Members opposite wish. There are a number of other reasons why hon. Members ought to oppose the Motion, but I do not wish to produce them at this moment.

I will conclude by expressing the hope that the Government will show some respect for the authority of the United Nations, will recognise that this is an international question on which United Nations mediation will be required in the future if not now, and will take the necessary steps to delay the implementation of federation so that the Secretary-General can make a proper investigation of what the people of these territories really want.

4.5 p.m.

Mrs. Barbara Castle(Blackburn) I suggest to the Leader of the House that we cannot rise for three months until we have had a satisfactory solution of the problem of Malta. As the House is well aware, very important talks are going on—at least, we hope that they are still going on—to draw up a constitution for an independent Malta. It is a welcome fact that on both sides of the House there is broad agreement that the time has come to give independence to Malta, and thus there is an opportunity for solving on an agreed basis what has been a longstanding subject of controversy between us.

However, there are disturbing Press reports that the talks have been running into difficulties and might be in danger of breaking down. It would be quite undesirable for this country to launch Malta on the seas of independence without having first endowed her with a thoroughly modern and democratic constitution under which fair elections could be held. The House will be aware that the Malta Labour Party has long held that such conditions for fair elections do not exist in Malta and that the last elections were not fairly conducted. Indeed, it supplied documentary evidence to the Special Commission of the United Nations on what it claimed were grave irregularities in the conduct of the elections in February. 1962.

As a result of that evidence, we on this side of the House have frequently pressed the Government for an inquiry into those elections. The Government have not seen, fit to agree, but on 10th May of this year the Special Commission of the United Nations pointed out that the conditions under which the general election of February, 1962, took place—

Mr. Speaker Order. I am anxious to help the hon. Lady, but we cannot discuss the merits or demerits of various aspects of constitution-making upon this Motion. The problem is whether the House, at its rising on Friday, do adjourn until Thursday, 24th October, at eleven o'clock.

Mrs. Castle I am trying to explain the points upon which these talks on Malta are in danger of breaking down. If this