VV(18) - June Disturbances

[David Morris]

http://www.magnet.mt/info/history/malta8.htmYears of Discontent: 1887 - 1920

In December 1887 a new Constitution was granted to the Maltese Islands
replacing that of 1849. According to this Constitution there was to be a
Council of Government consisting of 20 members, 14 of whom were to be elected
members. Unfortunately this Constitution had only a short span of life.
Difficulties arose due to the heated "language question", and on the 3rd June
1903 this Constitution was revoked and substituted by another one, similar to
that of 1849.

At the turn of the century, the British Government undertook the construction
of the breakwater in the Grand Harbour and two new docks in the dockyard. These
projects generated considerable employment, to the extent that workmen were
brought from abroad. However the termination of these projects and the
subsequent rundown of British forces in the island brought about a grave
economic crisis which brought the islands to the verge of bankruptcy. 

In April 1913, the International Eucharistic Congress, presided by the Papal
legate Cardinal Ferrata, was held in Malta. Five Cardinals and a number of
foreign bishops and Catholics also participated in this Congress.

This joyful event was followed in August 1914 by the outbreak of the First
World War during which Malta contributed its share as part of the British
Empire in three ways, as a hospital base, a Naval base, and by the services
rendered by the Maltese in the British Army and Navy. As a hospital base, Malta
was considered to be "The Nurse of the Mediterranean", as thousands of wounded
and sick Allied soldiers from Gallipoli and Salonika were brought to Malta.
Considerable work was also carried out in the local naval dockyard, which
employed about 10,000 men. 

Following the end of the war in November 1918 there was a mood of discontent
prevailing on the island due to various factors including the political
situation, unemployment and the price of bread. In February 1919 a National
Assembly was convened in Valletta under the presidency of Dr Filippo Sceberras
to obtain better constitutional concessions. On the 7th June 1919 riots broke
out as a result of the prevailing unrest, both economic and political, during
which four Maltese were killed. 






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