1987-07-05 09:34 COMMS. OFFICE (GOV'T HSE)
852 5 845 0995 P.10
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18.
It would seem to me odd if that were the result of an
It is, after all, an
International Covenant of this kind.
agreement between sovereign states who come together in an
honourable accord, promising to enforce individual rights in their
respective territories. The basis of International Law is the
comity of nations, their desire to live peaceably together and to
diminish the scope for hostility or international recriminations.
It would therefore be surprising to find that they had bound
themselves by agreement to tolerate in their respective
territories, attacks upon each other of a blatantly propagandist
or hostile character.
19.
The point I make is that good relations between
territories is the fundamental basis of all international law. I
should doubt whether the acceptance of the right of film-makers to
express ideas was intended to be carried so far as to enable those
good relations to be undermined by means of political propaganda
that is likely to cause offence in overseas territories.
20.
Of course a balance has to be maintained, and that is
the approach of these regulations which give to a censor a
discretion, for he may not disapprove a film for exhibition unless
in his considered opinion there is a likelihood that its showing
in a public place would damage good relations with other
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territories.
./10
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