§ 4. Mr. Leatherasked the Under-Secretary of State for Commonwealth 1364 Relations whether he will initiate consultations with all Commonwealth Governments to explore the possibility of getting an agreed text book of Commonwealth history for use in all State schools and universities throughout the Commonwealth.
§ Mr. AlportNo, Sir. I do not think that such a project would be compatible with the tradition of academic freedom which all Commonwealth Governments wish to preserve.
§ Mr. LeatherWould it not be of help to get some agreement throughout the Commonwealth on this very important matter? Would it not be appropriate if the Commonwealth Education Conference, which is to meet in this country very shortly, were asked to give consideration to trying to show a little more sympathy of outlook, if nothing more, in this matter?
§ Mr. AlportI agree with the hon. Gentleman that the forthcoming Commonwealth Education Conference is a most important and significant development in co-operation among all Commonwealth countries in the sphere of education, but I do not think, frankly, that it would be either a suitable subject or a good precedent that a proposal should be made the first object of which is to curtail in some way normal academic freedom.