HC Deb 05 February 1932 vol 261 cc397-8W
Mr. MANDER

asked the President of the Board of Education the nature of the reply sent to the governing body of the International Educational Cinematograph Institute, concerning its draft convention for the suppression or reduction of customs barriers on educational films, and the present position with regard to the convention?

Sir J. SIMON

I have been asked to reply. In a latter addressed to the Secretary-General of the League of Nations on 28th May last, and communicated by the latter to the Director of the International Educational Cinematograph Institute, it was stated that, while His Majesty's Government in the United Kingdom viewed with sympathy the object which the promoters of the convention sought to obtain, they felt that the draft convention was open to serious objections and was unsuitable to serve as a basis for discussion. If, however, other Governments shared their sympathy with the idea underlying the convention, and were willing to take steps to overcome the objections which it offered, His Majesty's Government would be ready to discuss the whole question at an international conference. No reply to this letter has yet been received from the Secretary-General.