From hymn to national anthem

Correspondence in the holdings of the British National Archives at Kew which passed between the Admiralty and the Colonial Office (ADM 1/11894) about the official recognition of the Innu Malti over 60 years ago, reveals interesting aspects of the playing of the anthem by Royal Navy bands, in addition to those mentioned by Professor Godfrey Pirotta (The Sunday Times, October 22).

In December 1941, the Adjutant General of the Royal Marines requested from the Colonial Office instructions and guidance on whether there was any objection to "this anthem being included in the book of National Anthems, Salutes and Official Marches for use by H.M.s Navy."

The Colonial Office seems to have been taken unawares, and replied that they "know nothing of the Maltese National Anthem, and thought it strange that they had not been consulted by the Governor (Sir William Dobbie) on the matter", and suggested that the hymn should be omitted from the book of national anthems.

In the meantime, the Commander-in-Chief, Mediterranean, was informed confidentially that his local action to allow the playing of the hymn by Royal Navy bands "will be allowed to stand until the Colonial Office raise the matter officially with the Government of Malta".

The matter dragged on for some time, and in April 1942, Mr A.J. Dean, a high official of the Colonial Office, noted with some dismay in an internal minute, that the Government of Malta had "acted somewhat precipitately (in asking the services to play the national anthem), but that in the present circumstances they do not propose to take up the matter with them, though they will do so when conditions become more suitable".

April 1942, often described as "the cruellest month" of the war, was the time when Malta was being battered mercilessly by the German Luftwaffe, and it was felt in London that it would be undesirable if any action taken by the Colonial Office "might give some inkling that all was not in order", and "if any facts or a garbled version of the facts (not to include the Innu Malti in the official book of anthems) would reach Malta".

The bottom line was a minute by Mr J.A. Phillips, the Principal Assistant Secretary at the Colonial Office, saying "that the Governor has not consulted the Colonial Office, and that until the matter is taken up and settled officially (which will be left to a more convenient time), it is not thought desirable to include the anthem in the book of national anthems".

It is interesting to note that the manuscript military band score, which is attached to the official correspondence, is headed by the words Innu Malti.