that it is desirable that an International Committee be 

 appointed by this Congress to consider how far the 

 proposals in question are applicable to tropical 

 countries." 



The resolution, which is of a non-committal nature, 'has been 

 put forward principally as there is a general feeling amongst 

 working entomologists that certain articles of the Convention 

 appear to impose limitations that would be disadvantageous 

 to countries with which we are concerned, and that other 

 articles, more particularly Article IV, afford an opening for 

 the unrestricted introduction of plants liable to introduce serious 

 pests. It appears to me that the last item " any crops grown 

 on a large scale "would, if I read it rightly, vitiate the whole 

 basis of legislation. It would exempt the staple products of 

 any country which it is desirable to protect. With these few 

 words I should like to leave the resolution for the considera- 

 tion of members, who are in a better position at the present 

 moment to discuss its merits. 



Dr. L. H. GOUGH, Ph.D. (Chief, Entomological Section, 

 Ministry of Agriculture, Egypt) : Mr. President and Gentle- 

 men In seconding the proposal, I wish to draw attention 

 specially to Article X of the Convention, which requires that each 

 country shall draw up a very short list of the pests against 

 which it wants to be protected. Agricultural conditions do 

 not permit of drawing up a short list of plant enemies against 

 which one wants to make a stand. If I were asked what should 

 be done, I should say that it would be best to draw up a list 

 of the insects against which I do not wish to legislate, namely, 

 the commonest pests of the country. Every other insect I 

 would strictly bar. The conditions in temperate climates and 

 in the tropics are very different. In the temperate countries 

 the exchange of destructive insects has already taken place to 

 a very great extent. In tropical countries the exchange is 

 only just beginning, and at the present moment any new insect 

 that gets introduced into a tropical country is likely to become 

 a very serious pest. This seems to me to be one of the chief 

 weaknesses of the Convention, and I think it would be advan- 

 tageous if a committee of this Congress were to consider the 

 question before it goes much further. 



My remarks are made purely in my personal character as a 

 scientist, and not as Government delegate, as I have not yet 

 had a chance of discussing the matter with my superior 

 officers. 



Lieut. -Col. Sir DAVID PRAIN (Director, Royal Botanic 

 Gardens, Kew) : May I ask what the powers of this committee 

 would be, to whom this committee would report, and what the 

 object of passing such a resolution is ? 



