500C.115 28th Conference/7–1544

Memorandum by the Secretary of State to President Roosevelt

At the request of the Secretary of Labor I transmit herewith her report as Chairman of the United States Delegation to the twenty-sixth session of the International Labor Conference, held at Philadelphia from April 20 to May 12, 1944.51

Important work of the Conference with reference to the future role of the International Labor Organization and certain post-war policies of the United Nations in which the I.L.O. has an interest is to be carried on by committees of the Governing Body and we shall be glad in this Department to facilitate this work in every way possible so as to assure the utmost consistency in the foreign policy of this Government. I am confident that the discussions and decisions of the recent session of the International Labor Conference will contribute [Page 1025] to the future effectiveness of the International Labor Organization.

The decisions of the Conference were taken in two forms—Recommendations and resolutions52—and cover a wide range of subjects, some of which call for action by governments, others of which call for action by various organs of the International Labor Organization, and still others of which suggest action by other international organizations. This Department proposes in the near future to suggest for your consideration further action to be taken with reference to the Recommendations adopted by the Conference.

  1. For text of report by Secretary Perkins transmitted to the Secretary of State, see Department of State Bulletin, September 10, 1944, pp. 258–262.
  2. For texts of the resolutions and recommendations adopted by the Conference, see appendices XI and XII, respectively, in International Labour Conference, Twenty-Sixth Session, Philadelphia, 1944, Record of Proceedings, pp. 521 and 542. See also appendix XIII for text of Declaration adopted by the Conference concerning the aims and purposes of the International Labor Organization, ibid., p. 621.