A.—sg.

in the International Settlement and in the rest of China, in order that factories on Chinese territory and within the Settlement should not derive an unfair competitive advantage by availing themselves of the absence of labour standards ; Requests the governing body to re-examine the question, and to consider the adoption of any steps or procedure which might lead to an effective solution of this urgent problem by direct agreement between the various authorities concerned or, failing such an agreement by an international Convention, with a view to ensuring the application of a uniform system of protection for the workers in all undertakings situated on Chinese territory, irrespective of whether they are or are not situated in the foreign settlements or whether they do or do not enjoy extraterritoriality. 5. Obligation of States to submit Conventions and Recommendations for Decision of Competent National Authority. Whereas paragraph 5 of Article 19 of the Constitution lays strict obligations on the members of the organization ; Whereas there are nevertheless doubts as to the fulfilment of those obligations by certain members ; The Conference invites the governing body to examine the methods by which the fulfilment of those obligations by all the members may be secured. 6. Relationship of Burma to International Labour Organization. Whereas Burma, which has hitherto enjoyed fall membership of the International Labour Organization as part of India, ceased to be a part of India on the Ist April, 1937 ; Whereas the Government delegate of the United Kingdom has indicated the steps which the Governments of the United Kingdom and of Burma propose to take to ensure the continuation of effective Burmese collaboration with the organization ; The Conference— (a) Expresses its cordial appreciation of the statement* made by the Government delegate of the United Kingdom on behalf of the Government of Burma that Burma recognizes that the International Labour Conventions ratified by India while Burma was part of India remain binding upon Burma, and that Burma proposes to submit her annual report thereon through the Government of the United Kingdom ; and (b) Invites the governing body to consider whether it is desirable that there should be included in future Conventions some provision permitting accession thereto by fully self-governing colonies, protectorates, and possessions which are not separate members of the organization. * The statement referred to is as follows :— 1. Burma, as part of India, has up to date participated in such International Labour Conventions as India has ratified up to the Ist April, 1937. 2. As from the Ist April, 1937, as a result of the operation of the Government of India Act, Burma became separated from India. Henceforth, as the position of Burma in relation to International Labour Conventions is that Burma is an overseas territory of His Majesty with a status similar to that of Southern Rhodesia, she is, within the meaning of Article 421 of the Treaty of Versailles, fully self-governing. 3. Although it is agreed that Burma is bound to continue to observe and apply all the International Labour Conventions in which she previously participated as part of India, nevertheless her participation therein must henceforth be separated from that of India. 4. It is accordingly notified that —(a) Burma will continue to observe the International Labour Conventions referred to in paragraph 1 above in accordance with their provisions ; and (b) His Majesty's Government in the United Kingdom have the right to give notice of the termination of the application of any of those Conventions to Burma separately, in accordance with the provisions of the Articles in such Conventions providing for termination. 5. As regards the participation of Burma in the future activities of the International Labour Organization, the Government of Burma and His Majesty's Government in the United Kingdom have agreed that such participation should be secured through the medium of His Majesty's Government in the United Kingdom, which will be empowered to accept on behalf of and with the consent of the Government of Burma the obligations of future International Labour Conventions. 7. Proposed Asiatic Tripartite Conference. Whereas it is urgently necessary, both in the interest of the workers directly concerned and as a contribution to the economic prosperity of the world as a whole, to promote far-reaching improvements in conditions of life and labour in Asiatic countries ; and Whereas the urgency of such action has once again been emphasized by the resolution adopted by the Asiatic Labour Congress held in Tokyo in May, 1937, urging that the attention of the International Labour Conference be drawn once more to the importance of establishing a Tripartite Asiatic Committee to promote this end.

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