I disagree entirely and absolutely with Karl Consiglio’s letter relating to Jean de Valette’s sword and dagger (July 1). The writer’s argument does not make sense: he defends the French stance of hanging on to the highly precious present on the ground that, if returned to the rightful owners, together with other stolen items suffering the same fate, it would denude the renowned museum of half of its contents.

This absurd and totally baseless argument is tantamount to believing that a person spending his life enriching himself by pinching other people’s pockets is not bound to return all the loot on the heart-rending plea that he would be severely impoverished. Poor chap!

The building of Valletta was not just a “job”, as the writer asserts, but a stupendous, highly laudable cultural and practical product contributing materially to the island’s progress to the level we experience and enjoy today. The EU members have recognised all Valletta’s virtues and have accordingly honoured it to be the future culture capital of Europe.

De Valette had no obligation to build the city. It must have been his natural urge and passion that drove him to endow the island with the gift of a gem of a city easily comparable in its refined concept and execution to any other advanced European city at the time.

Finally, contrary to Consiglio’s belief, I strongly maintain that the sword is our national property in virtue of the rule of right of inheritance and succession. This in the same way that all the riches and works of art seeing the light of day thanks to the Order of St John we now enjoy as national treasures and possessions are rightfully and legally protected in favour of the State.