500.C115/327: Telegram
The Secretary of State to the Consul at Geneva (Gilbert)
73. On behalf of the Secretary of Labor thank Butler7 for his telegrams of June 18 and inform him that the United States would welcome [Page 735] an invitation to join the labor organization. In the absence of an appropriation at the present to cover the expenses connected with the organization we do not contemplate accepting the invitation until we see our way clear to paying our share.
It would be desirable if steps could now be taken by the International Labor Organization so that if such invitation is accepted the United States could promptly take its place as a member of the Governing Body.
Miss Perkins also requests that you tell Andrews he may formally transmit the text of the resolution signed by the President on June 19 to the conference or to Butler, as a basis for such action as the conference may take. In the event an invitation is extended the observers should confine themselves to an expression of this Government’s appreciation.
- Harold Butler, director of the International Labor Office.↩