§ 16. Mr. Peter Smithersasked the Minister of Education why His Majesty's Government has not yet become a full member of the International Institute of the Hylean Amazon; and whether he will now take the necessary steps to obtain such membership.
§ Mr. TomlinsonHis Majesty's Government gave very careful consideration to the possibility of this country becoming a member of the International Institute of the Hylean Amazon, but regretfully decided that the hard currency expenditure which membership would involve should not be incurred in view of the difficulty of arranging such overseas payments. As long as this difficulty persists, it will, I fear, be unlikely that His Majesty's Government will alter its decision.
§ Mr. SmithersIs the Minister aware that the French and Dutch Governments, whose interests in the area are similar in kind but less in degree, have become full members of this Institute; and in view 543 of the important long-term interests of British trade in the area will he reconsider this disappointing decision?
§ Mr. TomlinsonWhen the circumstances that I have outlined change, we will consider the matter.
§ Lieut.-Commander Gurney BraithwaiteCan the right hon. Gentleman tell us what this Institute is? Is it a ladies club?
§ Mr. TomlinsonThe International Institute of the Hylean Amazon has been formed by the co-operative effort of the interested Latin-American countries, in particular Brazil, to carry out a scientific investigation of the tropical forests of the Amazon basin.
§ Mr. SmithersIs the Minister aware that the statement he has just made is misleading, and that many foreign countries are participating fully in this experiment, which concerns our Colonies in the Western Hemisphere?
§ Mr. TomlinsonI think that it is a very good scheme. If we could afford to do all the things we should like to do, this is one of the things we should do. My statement was not misleading at all. I did not say anything other than that certain nations were peculiarly interested in the matter.