ABSTRACT
The military measures that were undertaken in the final nine months before the first bombs fell on Malta on 11 June 1940 must be viewed in the context of wider Anglo-French strategy during this period. 1 By 1 September 1939 the Mediterranean Fleet had concentrated at Alexandria, leaving only seven submarines and 12 MTBs at Malta, and the Mediterranean had been closed to merchant shipping. 2 This state of readiness was, however, soon relaxed, as it became clear that Mussolini intended, for the moment at least, to remain neutral. Merchant shipping through the Mediterranean was resumed on 5 September, and at the first meeting of the Supreme War Council at Abbeville on 12 September Chamberlain and Daladier quickly agreed on the necessity to avoid any action that might provoke Italian hostility. 3
