I.L.O. VOICE AT PEACE CONFERENCE

Dominion, Volume 37, Issue 188, 8 May 1944, Page 5

I.L.O. VOICE AT PEACE CONFERENCE

United States Proposal (Received May 7, 8.10 p.m.) PHILADELPHIA, May 6. The Australian Government delegates to the conference of the International Labour Office have circulated a resolution among committee members which makes recommendations for a present and post-war social policy, providing:— »1. That countries which are not fully developed and are dependent on a nai row range of exports may use economic measures to ensure their continued stability. 2. That steps be taken to establish an international agreement for economic collaboration with provisions to guard all the United Nations from producing identical goods which might pile up into surpluses. 3. The United Nations should exchange information on their post-war industrial programmes. The United States Government delegation submitted a resolution demanding action now to prepare the 1.L.0. for the role it would be called on to play in framing the peace terms. Miss Francos Perkins, the United ’States Secretary of Labour, explained that the opportunity should be taken at the peace negotiations to secure binding obligations concerning labour conditions. The Canadian delegation supported the United States resolution.

Differing Policies.

The Philadelphia correspondent of the New York “Herald-Tribune” quotes informed quarters as saying that the United States resolution about the participation of the 1.L.0. in the peace conference constitutes an action unprecedented in the history of international relations. The appointment of a committee would represent a substantial victory for Britain and Canada, who have consistently objected to binding their Governments now on post-war issues, while many smaller nations have insisted that post-war matters should be settled at the present meetings. The United Nations were concerned with how to deal with Germany after the war, Sir Frederick Legget, the British Government delegate, told a sub-com-mittee appointed to consider questions regarding Axis territories. But he reminded the sub-committee that Russia was not represented at the conference, and Britain would not consider entering any agreement relating to Germany unless Russia took part. The conference has now nearly reached its third stage. The first stage was a general talk on future aims. Then came detailed discussions Of practical policy in the eight important committees which were set up. The work of these committees is nearly finished, and the proposals are being drafted for presentation to the full conference next week. Promises and Action.

Summing up the past fortnight’s progress, the president, Mr. Nash, predicted that the conference would give, the workers of the world more than any previous such meeting, but warned that promises at the conference were not enough; subsequent action must be taken.

“Everybody here appears to realise where we want to go,” he said. "The only differences concern •the type of road along which we shall travel. I hope and believe we will not get in a maze by trying to build a lot of roads to reach the same goal. If we return to the old methods of supply and demand, searching for jobs, fear of poverty and Worry about what is going to happen when we get old, then a great many young lives will have been given in vain."