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55. Attention should be drawn to the fact that the fellowship programme is specially concerned with mature persons and that, as part of the gradual transition from reconstruction already referred to, increasing help must be

One given to trust and underdeveloped areas.

56. Technical Needs of Radio, Film and Press.-There is a group of important activities arising partly from UNESCO's reconstruction policy; these are the efforts required to meet the basic technical needs of war- devastated or otherwise underequipped countries in such matters as news- print, radio receiving sets, films, raw materials, equipment and professional training.

57. Two surveys of these technical needs have already been carried out and the results published. They reveal needs on such a scale that further surveys appeared to the Unied Kingdom Delegation to be superfluous. Never- theless, in spite of our argument that all efforts should now be concentrated on meeting the needs already known, the Conference recommended the extension of these surveys, although on a reduced scale.

58. Removal of Obstacles to the Free Flow of Information.-From the information which the Technical Needs Reports provide, it is clear that, even where the physical equipment is available, man-made obstacles are preventing the intercommunication of peoples and that free flow of information and ideas which we believe to be the fundamental basis of peace and security. Such obstacles are high prices of newsprint or radio sets, high tariffs, restrictive currency controls and transport difficulties. These must be enumerated and studied in an effort to find remedies for them. The United Kingdom Delegation was under no illusion that rapid action is likely to be possible along many of these lines.

59. International Agreement concerning Audio-Visual Aids. One practical step was taken at the urgent instance of the United States Delegation when the Conference agreed to approve the text of a draft international agreement to facilitate international circulation of visual and auditory material of an educational, scietific and cultural character. The United Kingdom Delegation tried to improve the terms of this Agreement but owing to its inability to consult all interested parties in the United Kingdom, and in the belief that further revision was necessary, it abstained from voting for its adoption at the Conference. The text of the Agreement was, however, adopted and a resolution dealing with its coming into force was passed.

60. Book Coupon Scheme. One other practical device has also emerged from the stage of discussion and planning to undergo practical trial. During the General Conference a brief ceremony greeted the inauguration of UNESCO's book coupons. These are vouchers which can be bought in soft- currency and exchanged against books sold in hard currency countries, UNESCO honouring the transaction by agreeing to find the hard currency necessary to redeem the coupon. Thus a Frenchman needing a serious non- fiction English or American book can buy a UNESCO coupon for francs which he can send to an English or American bookseller who will supply it and look to UNESCO for payment. The scheme is naturally limited by UNESCO's available sterling or dollar holdings and the experiment cannot offer unlimited numbers of such coupons. But something will be done through this means to break down a part of one serious barrier to the exchange of ideas through the printed page. The United Kingdom has agreed to participate in this experiment.