UNO ECONOMIC COUNCIL

Press, Volume LXXXII, Issue 24909, 24 June 1946, Page 5

UNO ECONOMIC COUNCIL

ATTITUDE TO TRADE UNIONS

SHARE IN DISCUSSIONS OPPOSED (Rec. 8.30 p.m.) NEW YORK, June 22. At the final plenary sitting of the second session of the Economic and Social Council of the United Nations the Soviet, with the support of Jugoslavia, Ukraine, Czechoslovakia, ahd Peru, unsuccessfully renewed the effort to give the World Federation of Tijade Unions power to partake without a vote in discussions affecting it by the council and its commissions

and committees. The Soviet delegate (Dr. Feonov), who made the move as an amendment to the report of the comYnittee for arrangements for consultation with nonGovernmental organisations suggested that some nations feared giving concessions to the United Federation of Trade Unions.

This produced a vigorous reaction from the British delegate (Sir Hector McNeil), who said that if Dr. Feonov was referring to his Government the charge was sheer nonsense and quite untrue. The United Kingdom was the home of free trade unionism and the Government of Britain was closest to union movement and in constant consultation with its leaders., but always .itself assumed full responsibility for its decisions. The Soviet proposal would give a body more rights in the council than Governments of the United Nations not represented on the council. Sir Hector MONeil pointed out that the General Assembly already had rejected the nrinciple the Soviet was espousing. which was one of the hardy annuals to which British Labour was accustomed. ‘‘Communists seek admittance to the Labour Party as often as the constitution provides,” he added. The Russian amendment was rejected by 12 votes to five. Signor Parodi (France) moved an amendment providing for authorised representatives of non-Governmental bodies to take part in council discussions and make known or defend their opinions at their own or the council’s request if this was approved by the president. Sir Hector McNeil said he would rather be Prime Minister of England than have the responsibility which would be thrust upon the president in such circumstances. The amendment was defeated by 10 votes to seven. At the reauest of the Soviet and the Ukraine. Mr J. G. Winant (U.S.A.) withdrew a resolution providing that the International Chamber of Commerce should be Placed first in the category nf organisations with which the council should maintain the rlocest possible relations. It was agreed .that the subject should be reintroduced later. The council unanimously adopted the committee’s report, the Soviet and the Ukraine voting in favour, reserving the right to move to have the World Federation of Trade Unions proposal inserted in it.