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No. 9. New Zealand, Dominions No. 137. Sir, — Downing Street, 16th March, 1928. With reference to my despatch, Dominions No. 178, of the 22nd March, 1927, I have the honour to transmit, for the information of His Majesty's Government in New Zealand, copies of a parliamentary question and answer of the sth March regarding the broadcasting of controversial matter. I have, &c., L. S. AMERY. Governor-General His Excellency General Sir C. Fergusson, Bart., LL.D., G.C.M.G., K.C.8., D.5.0., M.Y.0., &c.

Enclosure. [Extract from House of Commons Official Report, sth March, 1928.] Broadcasting (Controversial Matter). Captain Fraser (by Private Notice) asked the Prime Minister, Whether he can now state what decision has been arrived at by the Government regarding the broadcast of controversial matter ? The Prime Minister : The Government have reviewed the decision, taken at the time of the constitution of the British Broadcasting Corporation, under which the corporation has been prohibited from broadcasting— (a) Expressions of opinion by the corporation on matters of public policy ; and (b) Statements involving matters of political, religious, or industrial controversy. The Government have decided that the first of these prohibitions—i.e., that on the issue of " editorial " pronouncements—must be maintained, but that the second shall be withdrawn forthwith. The Corporation has been informed that the Government expect them to use the discretionary power thus experimentally entrusted to them strictly in accordance with the spirit of the Crawford Committee's Report, and that it is their responsibility to see that this is done.

No. 10. New Zealand, Dominions No. 145. Sir, — Downing Street, 21st March, 1928. With reference to the telegram from the Dominions Office, Circular A No. 6, of the Ist February, I have the honour to state, for the information of His Majesty's Government in New Zealand, that the exchange of ratifications of the Special Claims Convention with Mexico took place at Mexico City on the Bth March. I have, &c., L. S. AMERY. Governor-General His Excellency General Sir C. Fergusson, Bart., LL.D., G.C.M.G., K.C.8., D.5.0., M.Y.0., &c.

No. 11. New Zealand, Dominions No. 158. Sir., — Downing Street, 27th March, 1928. With reference to my despatch, Dominions No. 328, of the 3rd June, 1927, regarding the Anglo-Spanish Commercial Treaty, I have the honour to state, for the information of His Majesty's Government in New Zealand, that by notes exchanged at Madrid on the 6th February between His Majesty's Ambassador and the Spanish Government it has been agreed that the expression " His Britannic Majesty's territories " as employed in Article 24 of the Treaty of the 31st October, 1922, revised by the Convention of the sth April, 1927, includes any territory which is under His Majesty's protection and any territory in respect of which a mandate is being exercised by any of His Majesty's Governments on behalf of the League of Nations. I have, &c., L. S. AMERY. Governor-General His Excellency General Sir C. Fergusson, Bart., LL.D., G.C.M.G., K.C.8., D.5.0., M.V.0., &c.

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