Abstract
LORD BALFOUR OF INCHRYE, speaking in the House of Lords on February 19, directed attention to the effects of the present restrictions on the import of books into Britain. He said that we cannot afford to fall behind in the application of modern scientific developments, and due to the difficulty in publishing books there is danger that Britain will be cut off from the exchange of ideas and knowledge. He suggested the imposition of a maximum time-limit for dealing with applications for import licences, that the permissible quantities of book imports be increased, and that there should be blanket licences of specified amounts for universities, libraries and approved scientific bodies. Lord Chorley, Lord in Waiting, in reply, said that the President of the Board of Trade is discussing with representatives of the learned institutions their difficulties in obtaining books, particularly from the United States. As a result of those discussions, an increase in the quota may be granted, though he would not hold out a promise that it would be up to the 200 per cent of the pre-war amount which had been suggested.
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Importation of Books into Britain. Nature 161, 304 (1948). https://doi.org/10.1038/161304a0
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1038/161304a0