A—7

I respectfully draw attention to the world-wide wave of progressive thought at present existing in respect to the treatment of the peoples of non-self-governing territories. This wave of progressive thought permeating the councils of the assembled nations is a tribute to the work of those sometime unknown men and women who, in years past, devoted their livesl in a self-sacrificing spirit of idealism to ensure that human dignity be respected irrespective of creed, race, or colour. Often pilloried, scorned, ridiculed, and persecuted, the pioneers in this great movement carried out their work unselfishly in the face of apparent irresistible opposition. To-day the ideals of the pioneers are matters seriously considered and applied by the representatives of Empires, States, and nations. This is but another indication that right must inevitably prevail. The guiding principles laid down at Philadelphia in respect to the peoples of dependent territories and subsequent findings of the United Nations at San Francisco are almost similar in their terms. Article 1 of the Philadelphia Recommendation reads as follows: — (1) All policies designed to apply to dependent territories shall be primarily directed to the well-being and development of the peoples of such territories and to the promotion of the desire on their part for social progress: (2) Policies of more general application shall be formulated with due regard to their effect upon the well-being of dependent peoples. Members of the United Nations which have, or assume, responsibilities for the administration of territories whose peoples have not yet attained a full measure of self-government recognize the principle that the interests of the inhabitants of these territories are paramount, and accept as a sacred trust the obligation to promote to the utmost, within the system of the international peace and security established by the present Charter the well-being of the inhabitants of these territories, and, to this end, to ensure, with due respect for the culture of the peoples concerned, their political, economic, social, and educational advancement, their just treatment, and their protection against abuses. The International Labour Organization, by several Conferences, have adopted six Conventions applying to the peoples of dependent territories. These are:— The International Slavery Convention of 25th September, 1926 : The Opium Conventions of 23rd January, 1912, 19th February, 1925, 13th July, 1931, and 26th June, 1936: The Forced Labour Convention, 1930: The Recruiting of Indigenous Workers Convention, 1936: The Contracts of Employment (Indigenous Workers) Convention, 1939: The Penal Sanctions (Indigenous Workers) Conventions, 1939. The more important Convention of these is the Forced Labour Convention of 1930. New Zealand ratified such Convention in March, 1938. The Philadelphia Conference, and later the Paris Conference, on which I am reporting, in a series of proposed Articles draw attention to these existing Conventions and, in some eases, make further recommendation for ratification where such have not been ratified, or for the withdrawal of limitations or modifications which accompany ratification by various States. The conclusions of the Paris Conference are to form the basis of a report for the Twenty-ninth Session of the International Labour Conference, to be held at Montreal. It will be one of the main questions on the Agenda. The 3—A 7

65