Colonial Office: Governor, Malta: Registered Files

CO 1062

1958-1969

This series consists of records produced in the office of the Governor of Malta relating to the Bailey Dockyard case, and for that reason retained by the UK government after Malta became independent.

Other records of the Governor form part of the Maltese national archive.

Public Record(s)

English

8 file(s)

Subject to 30 year closure

From 2001 Foreign and Commonwealth Office

Topics

International

Manufacturing

Europe and Russia

Navy

Records of the Governor of Malta relating to the Bailey Dockyards case were retained by the UK government after Malta's independence until the case was settled, during which time they passed from the Commonwealth Relations Office to the Commonwealth Office (in August 1966), and thence to the Foreign and Commonwealth Office (in October 1968).

File series ran from 1813 to 1962

No future accruals expected.

Only the few documents relating to the Bailey Dockyards case have been selected for permanent preservation. These records are aquired under section 2.2.1.3 of the PRO acquisition policy, as they document this important aspect of UK/Maltese relations immediately preceeding independence.

Malta was captured by the British in 1800, and from 1801 to 1813 the administration of the islands was divided between a British Military Commander and a British Civil Commission. The first British governor was appointed in July 1813. Limited self-government was introduced by the 1921 constitution, under which the Maltese Government handled local affairs while reserved matters were handled by the Maltese Imperial Government, headed by the Governor.

This constitution was suspended in 1930 and again in 1933, revoked in 1936, and Crown Colony rule resumed in 1939. Limited self government was restored under the 1947 constitution. Internal self government for Malta, as recommended by the Malta Constitutional Commission under Sir Hilary Blood, was introduced in March 1962, and from this point reserved matters were handled by a UK Commissioner in Malta. Though the post of governor continued, the Governor now acted on the advice of Maltese ministers, and ceased to have any executive authority.