A.—s.

Cinema. As a result of information available to the Advisory Committee, a complete documentation on this subject is to be prepared in time for discussion at the 1938 Assembly. The Placing of Children in Families. Difficulties were seen in the separating of child welfare from other social questions, and the Advisory Committee proceeded on its study of this question on more general lines. Its views are to be placed before the 1938 Assembly. Children born out of Wedlock. The same remarks apply to the report on the question of children born out of wedlock. Several aspects of this question have been studied in the past, and the material available will be presented in the form of a final report at a later session, Activities of the Secretariat as an Information Centre for Matters connected with Child Welfare. The Information Centre transmitted to members of the Fifth Committee a summary of the annual reports by Governments concerning their activities in the sphere of child welfare (Document C. 316, M. 212, 1937, IV). Traffic in Women and Children : Progress of International Legislation. Fifty countries have ratified the 1921 International Convention for the Suppression of the Traffic in Women and Children, and the Fifth Committee recorded its satisfaction with this progress, as also with the position in regard to the 1923 International Convention for the Suppression of the Circulation of and Traffic in Obscene Publications. The hope was further expressed that more countries would soon adhere to the Convention for the Suppression of Traffic in Women of Full Age, concluded at Geneva in 1933. Regarding the draft Convention for the Suppression of the Exploitation of Prostitution, several delegates expressed their agreement with the recommendation of the sub-coinmittee of the Advisory Committee that, instead of making reservations, the regulationist countries should, at the time of signature, make a declaration that they are in agreement with the principles of the Convention. This report has been transmitted to Governments, and if the proposals meet with general agreement-it is hoped that it will be possible to take a decision at the Assembly of 1938 for convening an inter-Governmental conference to conclude the Convention. Annual Reports of Governments on the Traffic in Women and Children and on Obscene Publications. The Fifth Committee expressed its regret that the position in this matter was not satisfactory—only fourteen member States and two non-Member States submitted reports for 1935-36. A new questionnaire had been suggested, and it was hoped this would induce a greater number of countries to submit reports. Abolition of Licensed Houses. A considerable advance was made in various countries within the past year towards the abolition of licensed houses. The Governments of the Argentine Republic, Uruguay, and France took legislative action aiming at the prevention of venereal disease. The Fifth Committee considered that the developments within the last year constituted the greatest advance achieved in any year since the beginning of the movement for the abolition of these houses. Rehabilitation of Prostitutes. The Fifth Committee agreed with the importance assigned to the study of this question, especially as to the sections on the antecedents of prostitutes and on social services for treatment of venereal disease. It was felt that the publication of the information already to hand would be of great service to countries starting or extending such services, enabling them to take account of methods used eisewhere. Conference of Central Authorities in Eastern Countries. The report of the Secretary-General on the work of the League gives an outline of the work accomplished by the above-mentioned Conference, which took place in Bandoeng in February last, and which is considered to be the most important international event in connection with the campaign against traffic in women and children since the last Assembly. The most striking results achieved were its declaration in favour of the abolition of licensed houses as a final goal, and its proposal that a special League Bureau should be created in the East to assist Governments in the fight against traffic in women and children. The Fifth Committee was unanimous in the desire to create a Bureau to carry out the functions contemplated by the Conference of Central Authorities in Eastern Countries, and much discussion centred around an examination of the manner in which the work of the Bureau was to be carried out and upon the degree of confidence it succeeded in inspiring in Governments. As to the location of the Bureau, Shanghai, Singapore, and Hong Kong were mentioned; as the scheme would in some degree be experimental, it was suggested that the Bureau should be established in the first instance for a period

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