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Conference an exhaustive examination of the question of the use of Spanish as a third working language, and the submission of a report to the fifth session, as arranged with the General Committee. The great achievement of this meeting, probably, was to have had the subject discussed in an atmosphere of moderate calm. In view of the proposal to place it on the agenda of the next session of the Conference, there is a necessity for some consideration bv the National Commission of the New Zealand point of view. ELECTION OF MEMBERS OF EXECUTIVE BOARD The terms of office of six members of the Executive Board expired in 1949. Of these, two —Resat Nuri Guntekin (Turkey) and Dr. George D. Stoddard (United States) —did not seek re-election. There was strong support for a Turkish representative, put forward in a circular from the delegation of Iraq, supported by Egypt, Afghanistan, Pakistan, Iran, Syria, Lebanon, and Saudi Arabia. This possibly had some effect; at any rate, seven nominations were made—a Turk was one of the six elected. The six persons elected seemed to be regarded as strong and useful members, actual or potential, of the Board. Voting was by roll-call and secret ballot. The following persons were elected (the first four re-elected): — M. Roger Seydoux (France). Professor Paulo de Berredo Carneiro (Brazil). Professor Alf Sommerfelt (Norway). H. E. Dr. C. Parra-Perez. Mr. Luther H. Evans (United States). M. Kudsi Tecer (Turkey). THE " GENERAL SUBJECT " It appears that at Beirut some delegates thought that if the fourth session were purely a " business " one it might lack interest; so, to provide interest, a subject for public discussion was evolved. This subject was phrased, " What are the duties of the State in regard to education, science, and culture for the purpose of ensuring a better understanding between peoples and what practical steps should it take in order to discharge these duties ? " UNESCO's member States, through their National Commissions, were invited to study the subject, and to send to the Conference both statements of their conclusions upon it, and speakers among their delegates who would contribute to the general discussion or debate. Some countries took the matter very seriously. In Australia, for example,