British PM rejected Mintoff’s invite to Services’ departure

Dom Mintoff had made an unsuccessful attempt to persuade British Prime Minister James Callaghan to attend the midnight Freedom Day ceremony on March 31, 1979, a recently declassified UK government document between the two men reveals. According to the transcript of the conversation on March 6, which is being published by The Sunday Times, Mr Callaghan said he appreciated the invitation from the Maltese Prime Minister but had to turn it down primarily because it would be a “very melancholy occasion” for him. The candid telephone call took place on March 6, two months before Margaret Thatcher won the 1979 election, defeating Mr Callaghan. “We don’t want you when you are not Prime Minister,” Mr Mintoff told Mr Callaghan when the British Prime Minister promised to visit in May or June, after the ceremonies. Mr Callaghan also told Mr Mintoff that the visit could harm him politically back home. But in another declassified note, Mr Callaghan’s private secretary indicates another reason for the British Prime Minister’s refusal to attend the ceremony. He warned the Prime Minister that the British Government would not be able to give Mr Mintoff the assurances he required on two issues,...