During the Lejl Imdawwal (Notte Bianca) held on September 29 in Valletta, the Department of Information published a booklet on the national flag.

It reproduces a collection, accumulated over the years, of illustrations and information on the Maltese national colours representing our national flag.

What struck me most in this booklet is the history and relative documents published for the first time.

Time and again various correspondents (myself included) have contested the George Cross on the Maltese flag. Now it transpires that, from the document printed in this booklet, on December 28, 1943, King George VI ordered that the George Cross be displayed on a blue canton in the Maltese flag. This document was never seen, as it was in the archive of Albert Ganado, by whose courtesy it was given to the Office of the Prime Minister for review.

When Malta became independent on September 21, 1964, the George Cross was constitutionally incorporated in the Maltese flag. The National Poet, Dun Karm, was very proud of the Maltese flag and he dedicated a poem to it with great honour.