A.—s

Proposals for extending preferences to various products came before the committee set up to study the extension of preference to agricultural products other than cereals, but it was thought impossible to consider the extension of such facilities to agricultural products other than cereals ; indeed, it has yet to be shown whether the facilities granted in respect of cereals are of value. Tobacco was included in the " other products." I gather that the tobacco-grower in eastern Europe is in a sorry plight, but he has to compete with American-grown tobacco, which is meeting more and more the public taste, and, at the moment, it does not seem that anything useful can be done. Nevertheless, the representatives of eastern European countries have recently pressed for special study of the question. The draft resolution submitted by the Sixth Committee, and reading as follows, was passed by the Assembly on the 10th October : — " The Assembly takes note of the report of the Secretary-General to the Assembly on the work done by the Commission of Inquiry for European Union during the past year ; " It requests the Commission to pursue the work undertaken in conformity with the principles laid down in the resolution of 17th September, 1930 ; " It requests the Commission to submit a report on its further work to the next ordinary session of the Assembly." (Document A. 46.) Co-operation or the Press in the Organization op Peace. This question was raised last year by the Spanish delegation in the form of a request to the Council to consider the possibility of preventing, with the assistance of the press, the dissemination of false information likely to hinder the maintenance of peace and good will among peoples, and a resolution on such lines was passed by the Twelfth Assembly. I refer you to Document A. 31, which gives the replies of a large number of press organizations to a communciation addressed to them by the Secretary-General. In the course of the debate by the Sixth Committee this year the Polish delegate submitted a motion on a subject in which the Poles have actively associated themselves in connection with the Disarmament Conference — i.e., the problem of moral disarmament. The object of the Polish motion was to draw the attention of the Disarmament Conference to the desirability of an International Press Conference. Leaving aside the problem of false news, and concentrating on press publicity in connection with the League, I may say that a section of the press has recently been saying hard things about the League, forgetting that it is the Governments which compose the League and which direct its policy. I feel sure that, on the whole, the League has the good will of the press. Lord Cecil acted as Rapporteur, and his report (Document A. 59), which was accepted by the Assembly on the 11th October, contains some suggestions for improved publicity. It will be seen from the resolution passed by the Assembly that the Secretary-General is to report next year on any further developments which may arise. I have the honour to be, Sir, Your obedient servant, Thomas M. Wileord, High Commissioner for New Zealand. The Right Honourable the Prime Minister, Wellington, New Zealand.

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