HC Deb 22 February 1939 vol 344 c353
1. Mr. Mander

asked the Prime Minister whether he will consider the advisability of inviting the League of Nations Committee of Intellectual Cooperation to hold one of its meetings in London in view of the fact that no such meeting has taken place in Great Britain before and that an Englishman has for several years been president of the organisation; and whether he will further consider the advisability of signing and ratifying the International Act recently agreed to at a Paris conference and of making a grant to the work of the committee in view of the fact that the United States of America, France, and 44 other nations are actively co-operating in this work?

The Under-Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs (Mr. Butler)

My Noble Friend will consider the possibility of the suggestion made in the first part of the hon. Member's question. His Majesty's Government in the United Kingdom decided that for reasons of financial principle they could not adhere to the International Act on Intellectual Co-operation, but were fully prepared to maintain the contribution they make to intellectual co-operation through the League of Nations itself.

Mr. Mander

In view of the fact that this is a part of the work of the League of Nations in which the Government, could effectively co-operate, will the Government seriously consider doing what is suggested in the first part of the question?

Mr. Butler

Yes, Sir, I said that we would give that careful consideration.

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