A.—s.

Kefugees. I do not think comment from me is necessary. A brief account of the work of the Nansen International Office for refugees is given in the Sixth Committee's report to the Assembly (Document A. 39). This work is in process of liquidation, although other work of a somewhat similar nature is contemplated as a result of the resolution of the Assembly regarding migrant Jews from Germany. This latter question, however, is dealt with in the section of this letter devoted to the work of the Second Committee. The Assembly approved Document A. 39, and passed the resolution with which it concludes at a meeting on the 7th October. Intellectual Co-operation. I invite your attention to the Sixth Committee's report to the Assembly (Document A. 46), which very fairly represents the intellectual co-operation point of view. Other documents are A 12 and A. 14. It will be convenient to deal here with a matter which was ultimately fought out in the Fourth Committee. On the sth October the Sixth Committee passed the following resolution:— " The Sixth Committee, having approved the conclusion of the report of M. Mistier on the work of the International Organization for Intellectual Co-operation, and having regard to the special importance of the work of the Committee on Arts and Letters for the purpose of pooling international thought, unanimously requests that this work should be continued. " It requests the Fourth Committee to restore for that purpose in the budget of the forthcoming financial period the credits allotted to the Committee on Arts and Letters." An appropriation of 10,000 francs for the. Committee on Arts and Letters had appeared in the original estimate submitted to the Supervisory Commission, but was rejected by the Commission in agreement with the Secretary-General. The Supervisory Commission on reconsideration, and in view of the unanimous recommendation of the Sixth Committee —on which, by the way, it was impossible for New Zealand to be represented at that particular time owing to the smallness of the delegation withdrew its opposition to the inclusion of the credit. Strong objection was taken by members of the Fourth Committee to the insertion of the item. Unfortunately, however, the hour was late and the Committee was depleted, so that the motion to reject was lost. The report (Document A. 46) was before the Assembly at its meeting on the 9th October, when the draft resolution with which it concludes was passed. Slavery. You will remember that the Thirteenth Assembly passed a resolution providing for the constitution of an Advisory Committee of Experts to deal with slavery under powers defined in that resolution which was passed by the Assembly in 1932 on the 12th October. Nothing further was done then, as the Fourth Committee found itself unable to provide the necessary appropriations. Since, considerable pressure has been applied by those who felt that this question of slavery, which is still of immense international importance, should be more energetically examined by the League, and support was such that the Fourth Committee this year sanctioned credits. A sum of only 1,790 francs was required, as there was already a considerable sum of money available, the balance of gifts received. Doubtless before this letter reaches you the Council will have appointed the Advisory Committee. A short report from the Sixth Committee, to which the matter was referred, was considered by the Assembly at its meeting on the 11th October, when the resolution with which the report concludes was passed (see Document A. 51). Minorities. No debate in Committee is more animated or is followed with closer interest than the yearly discussion on Minority questions by the Sixth Committee, and although the smallness of the New Zealand delegation, coupled with the necessity to devote all time possible to matters of more importance to New Zealand, made it impossible for your delegate to be present at the whole discussion, I am yet able to state, and my statement is based on personal observation, that this debate which reached a high level this year shows that the League is by no means dead or even dying. For some years past many delegations have felt that the procedure for dealing with petitions from minorities should be strengthened, and the delegation of the United Kingdom introduced a motion which, if passed, would have provided that, — (1) Petitioners should be informed of the reasons why their petitions were declared nonreceivable : (2) The Minorities Committee of the Council should explain to the Council the reasons for placing particular questions on its agenda : (3) When the Minorities Committee decided to close the examination of a question without submitting it to the Council, it should be entitled to publish its decision and to offer such explanations as were considered desirable. It will be convenient to deal at once with the fate of this motion, which, with others presently to be referred to, was sent to a sub-committee. The motion was withdrawn, the delegation of the United Kingdom substituting for it a proposal that the Assembly should request the Secretary-

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