‘Il-Ħmar’ and the Sette Giugno riots : the impact of one of the most prominent newspapers on Maltese citizens

Abstract

The weekly newspaper ‘Il-Ħmar’ (see Fig. 1) started in 1917, with the last edition being published during 1928, followed by the newspaper ‘Il-Ħmara’ in 1928 (Sant 1989). ‘Il Ħmar’ and ‘Il-Ħmara’ were published by Guliermo Arena and when Arena died in 1926, his brother, Joseph Arena became the new editor. ‘Il-Ħmar’ with the subtitle ‘Jitchellem bic-cajt fuk l’aktar ħuejjeġ serji’, published 1,047 newspapers weekly in 11 years, an average of 95 editions per year. It was one of the most popular newspapers in 1919. It was published every Saturday. However, when the Commission of Inquiry started in August 1919, the newspaper was published also on Tuesdays. ‘Il-Ħmar’ followed the newspaper Ġiaħan (1906-1926). Satirical newspapers were most popular between the end of the 19th century and the beginning of the 20th century (Vella, 2018). According to ‘Il-Ħmar’s editor, Gugliermo Arena, around 3,000 copies were sold every week. When considering that most of the Maltese were illiterate, the rate was high. Those who could read were delivering the message to others. Men in the cities used to meet in clubs and tea shops talking about the news. ‘Il-Ħmar’ lived up to its motto which was written in 1917 when it stated that a donkey is not just a stupid animal although it is not as strong as a horse. ‘Il-Ħmar’ had below the masthead a legend reading ‘Ludendo Castigat Mores’, which means the ‘entertainment that disciplines behaviour’. Most of the articles were written by people using pseudonyms. The writer Richard Taylor wrote most of these satirical jokes, poems, and dialogues in the Maltese newspapers. In fact, he was known as “the pioneer of satirical journalism in the Maltese language” (Spiteri, 2013). The thought behind this newspaper was to speak humorously on the most serious of matters. Arena, the editor, started the first edition with the headline ‘Ready for Action’. It was a newspaper that focused directly on workers and low class. Its aim was to attack the British Empire authorities as well as politicians and professionals (‘Il-Ħmar’, 5-4-1917 ed.). In the first opinion piece, the editor reminded people that the election was yet to come, and it was going to be a raging battle, so no one should fear. One had to keep in mind that in those days, women did not have the right to vote; only men were franchised. Il-Ħmar’ stated that taxes were among the worst in 1918 when the inheritance tax was passed. This hit the high-class population. According to Azzopardi (1919), bread was not the main issue that most angered people, but when workers were being hired and fired from the Dockyard (‘Il-Ħmar’, 2-9-1919 ed.). Newspapers used to infiltrate public opinion and instil interest in people especially when censorship was lifted on the 3rd of February 1919. Newspapers sales were high in towns and the inner harbour area. The Malta Daily Chronicle was pro-British, favouring the British Empire and against the Dockyard workers. The majority of the Maltese were against this newspaper (Sant, 1989). ‘La Voce del Popolo’ was the organ of the Comitato Patriottico which was against the colonial government. The newspaper published such strong articles so that John Briffa, the main censor of this paper, in the Sette Giugno’s inquiry stated that the Comitato Patriottico featured heated articles in the newspaper ‘La Voce del Popolo’. "They could have an influence on the Maltese people" (Bartolo, 1979 p.35). Other articles that may have prompted the people were those on the newspaper ‘L-Unjoni Maltija’. The main intention of these articles, which were published during January 1919, was to work hard for the Constitution to be granted. Among other articles, Savior Agius, in favour of Manwel Dimech, wrote an article entitled ‘Kunu Iebsin Maltin’ on 29th March 1919. Agius incited people to struggle against foreigners who dominated the country (Bartolo, 1979 p.30). These articles along with similar others were catalysts for the 7th and 8th June’s revolt. The agent of the Police Commissioner sent a copy of most of these articles to Lieutenant Governor W.C.F. Robertson to take action. The Acting Tenant-Governor E.A. Bonavia’s secretary called these articles "the ordinary vapouring”, but Robertson said it was better not to do anything because they would become popular. The lawyer of the crown, Dr. M.A. Refalo was of the same opinion. The governor’s message was to "let sleeping dogs lie" (Bartolo, 1979 p.29).