§ MR. BYLESI beg to ask the President of the Board of Trade what, if any, amendments to the British copyright law are being proposed to the International Conference now sitting at Berne; and will any amendments which may be agreed to by the British delegates be submitted for discussion to the House of Commons, or will the Government make use of an Order in Council for their ratification.
§ THE PRESIDENT OF THE BOARD OF TRADE (Mr. CHURCHILL,) DundeeSome of the proposed amendments to the Berne Convention would involve an alteration of British law and could not of course be adopted by His Majesty's Government until the necessary legislation had been passed. An Order in Council under the International Copyright Acts can only give foreign works the benefit of the existing law and cannot alter that law.
§ MR. BYLESDo I understand that some of these provisions will have to be the subject of legislation?
§ MR. CHURCHILLAny alteration of the law must be by legislation.