§ Mr. Manderasked the Prime Minister whether it is the intention of the Government to ratify the following three international conventions, International Act Concerning Intellectual Co-operation, the Declaration Regarding the Teaching of History, and procés verbal adopted by the Conference on the application of the Convention of 11th October, 1933, for facilitating the International Circulation of Films of an Educational Character?
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§ Mr. ButlerHis Majesty's Government are not a party to the International Act Concerning Intellectual Co-operation. On the Declaration regarding the teaching of history, I would refer the hon. Member to the answer given to the hon. Member for Barnstaple (Sir R. Acland) by the then Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Foreign. Affairs on 20th November, 1936, stating that, while His Majesty's Government were in full sympathy with the aims of the Declaration, there were various reasons which made it impossible to adopt the measures provided for therein.
The question of the ratification of the Convention for Facilitating the International Circulation of Films of an Educational Character is at present under consideration, and it is expected that the necessary legislation will be ready at an early date.