§ Sir J. Lucasasked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs if he will publish the detailed arrangements made or planned with regard to cultural relations between Great Britain and Brazil since the Anglo-Brazilian Cultural Convention was signed in December, 1948.
§ Mr. MayhewThe Cultural Convention between the United Kingdom and Brazil was ratified on 21st December, 1948. Two executive bodies were nominated to implement it, the British Council representing the United Kingdom, and a special Commission nominated by the Ministry of Education and Health, in agreement with the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, representing Brazil. The British Council, which was, of course, already working in Brazil before the Convention was signed, still maintains an extensive programme of activities in the cultural field.
As soon as was practicable after the ratification of the Convention, namely, in July of this year, the Chairman of the British Council visited Brazil as provided for under Article 13 of the Convention. He held meetings with the Commission designated by the Brazilian Ministries. The various Articles of the Convention were studied and plans were made for their implementation wherever possible. These included offers of scholarships, prizes for the best book to be written by nationals of the one country on the education, science or culture of the other, and certain difficulties over the sale and distribution of books in Brazil, which have now been alleviated by Brazilian legislation. Public announcements will be made shortly. It was agreed that the second meeting of the British Council and the Brazilian Commission should be held in Great Britain within two years.