A.—s

where account is taken of the views to which the oversea dominions principally concerned gave expression. In this connection I refer you to the concluding paragraph of Section 4of the Second Committee's report: — " The Second Committee therefore believes that the proposals of the agricultural countries which met at Warsaw come within the scope of the economic reorganization to be discussed between States signatories of the Protocol of Future Negotiations of 21-th March, 1930, always provided, however, that, in accordance with the Tenth Assembly's resolution, the non-signatory States may be asked to participate ; and, further, that the result of all such negotiations shall be brought before a Conference which all States, without distinction, will be asked to attend." I would draw your attention to the account of the work of the Economic Committee on the Exploitation of the Riches of the Sea, and to the draft convention drawn up by the Committee for the Regulation of Whaling. (See Document C. 353, M. 146.) The only other point which I desire to mention is the International Conference, held this year, for the unification of laws on bills of exchange, promissory notes, and cheques. Copies of three conventions drawn up by the Conference have doubtless reached you, but further copies accompany this report. The introduction into the Assembly of the Second Committee's report gave rise to a lengthy debate on lines familiar to those who had taken part in the committee's meetings. As the debate is well summarized in the issues of the Journal of the 2nd and 3rd October, it would serve no useful purpose to recapitulate here the various points which were made. The resolutions with which the report concludes were passed by the Assembly on the 2nd October. (See also Document E. 609.) Communications and Transit. Particulars of the work accomplished by the Organization for Communications and Transit are given in Documents A. 6 and A. 6 (a). It will be observed that the Organization is now concerning itself with civil aviation. As you are aware, one of its duties is to prepare for International Conferences on questions within its sphere. The next Conference, which will deal with buoyage and the lighting of coasts, will be held this year in Lisbon. The Second Committee's report (Document A. 65) came before and was passed by the Assembly on the 29th September. Intellectual Co-operation. The report of the International Committee on Intellectual Co-operation is Document A. 21. Pages 23 to 36 are devoted to the report of the Committee of Inquiry set up last year. Following on the recommendations contained in the report, the international committee has decided on farreaching reforms. The Second Committee's report to the Assembly (Document A. 67) was passed by the Assembly at its meeting on the 3rd October. Work of the Financial Organization. Many of the great tasks undertaken by the Financial Committee have come or are coming to an end—the financial reconstruction of Austria and Hungary, the resettlement of Bulgarian and Greek refugees, for instance. But the Financial Committee still has much in hand, and of its reports I desire to draw attention to that entitled " Interim Report of the Gold Delegation of the Financial Committee " (Document A. 29). The delegation comprises a number of eminent bankers, and includes Professor Cassel, the world-famous economist. The report repays perusal, and one looks forward with great interest to further reports on the subject. The Second Committee's report to the Assembly is Document A. 68. It was agreed to at the meeting of the Assembly held on the 29th September. (See also Document A. 41.) COMMITTEE No. 3. I am afraid it is not possible this year to report much progress in the field of disarmament. The papers before the committee were— (1) Those sections of the report on the work of the League (Documents A. 6 and A. 6 (a) ) which refer to the reduction of armaments, and arbitration and security ; (2) The report of the Committee on Arbitration and Security (Document A. 11) dealing with the Draft Convention to strengthen the Means of preventing War, the Draft Convention for Financial Assistance, and with communications affecting the work of the League of Nations in time of emergency (see also Document A. 39) ; and (3) Document A. 15, which is solely concerned with the Draft Convention on Financial Assistance.

2—A. 5.

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