1941: International Conferences

International Labor Organization Conference.

Under the auspices of its governing body, the International Labor Organization held its twenty-sixth conference, and the first since the outbreak of war, in New York Oct. 27-Nov. 6, with 33 member-states represented by delegates from governments, employers' and workers' organizations, and observers from Thailand, Costa Rica and the Free French—altogether 110 delegates, including many persons eminent in economic and labor fields, and over 70 advisers. The chief topic for discussion was post-war reconstruction widely interpreted, as presented in a study by the Acting Director of the ILO, Mr. Edward J. Phelan, that urged against concentration merely upon labor legislation and, instead, emphasized the Organization's concern with the whole subject of economic security in the post-war world. In general the meeting endorsed the ILO's important role, the need for social security in defeating Hitlerism, the Four Freedoms of President Roosevelt and the Atlantic Charter. Among the nine resolutions adopted, unanimous approval was given to cooperation between the ILO and the peace and reconstruction conference after the war, planning for regulation of post-war economic and social conditions in the merchantile marine, fullest cooperation in implementing the principles of the Atlantic Charter, collaboration with the Regional Office set up by the River Plate conference, encouraging exchange of goods between American nations, and representation of workers and employers on public agencies affecting their interests. The other resolutions adopted, but without unanimity, urged increased recognition and effective use of the 'tripartite principle' in common concerns and the supply of all the arms that industry can produce in the democratic nations for the victory of China, Great Britain, Russia and their allies. In another resolution positive action was taken to establish a World Textile Office. During the meetings a joint declaration of cooperation in the 'reconstruction of a new Europe' was made by representatives of the Czech, Greek, Polish and Yugoslav governments-in-exile and of agreement to the formation of an economic unit composed of their countries, with provision for the eventual admission of Rumania, Hungary and Bulgaria to the bloc. This regional unit would form a buffer against German expansion to the east and would help promote economic rehabilitation and prosperity in Eastern Europe. Although concrete results were necessarily few, the ILO meeting was significant as a general assembly of the democracies of the world held during widespread war for the discussion of their immediate and future plans and problems.

Radio Engineering Conference.

Representatives of Canada, Cuba, Dominican Republic, Haiti, Mexico and the United States met in Washington Jan. 14-20 for a North American Regional Radio Engineering Conference to discuss jointly problems involved in a provision of the 1937 convention regarding the exchange of lists and other data concerning broadcasting stations in those countries. The general problem of the scientific allocation of frequencies in a standard broadcasting band (550-1,600 kilocycles) was assigned to this technical committee and resulted in a set of recommendations providing that each government should bring into operation prior to March 28 the licenses, permits or authorizations necessary for making effective the listings of broadcasting stations as drawn up. It also proposed the installation of a number of technical improvements regarding apparatus and working methods for proper operation of the stations listed. The committee had to consider the frequencies and other characteristics of 1,234 stations and the complicated difficulties arising from approximately two hundred conflicts. One immediate result is the elimination, through co-operation of the Mexican government, of the long-standing problem of the so-called 'border stations' which for a long time have caused serious interference with broadcasting services in the United States and Canada.

South American Trade Conference.

To further trade and economic co-operation in the absence of their European markets, Argentina, Bolivia, Brazil, Paraguay and Uruguay held a first Regional Conference of the River Plate Jan. 27-Feb. 7 in Montevideo, and adopted a twelve-point program. Observers from Chile, Peru and the United States also attended. The program provides for a special economic system, without most-favored-nation extension to other countries, of reciprocal treatment for coastwise vessels between the river ports, special tariffs, traffic and customs facilities, advantageous taxes for the interchange of goods, and transit arrangements for immigrants and tourists. In part these arrangements were undertaken to deal with the special problem of Bolivia and Paraguay's shut-in geographical situation and their need for less restricted transit to the sea. Specific agreement was reached for an eventual customs union, the creation of systems for commercial arbitration and for foreign exchange, banking and credit facilities, as well as a permanent international commission for improved use of the international rivers connected with the Plate, and co-ordinated action regarding the Pan American Highway. An outstanding achievement was the agreement to establish in Buenos Aires a permanent Regional Office of Economic Information and Study to watch over the working of the regional agreements. Co-operation between this office and other inter-American commissions was provided. In general all possible facilities and encouragement of trade, resources, and markets are to be furthered, and trade barriers and other commercial and shipping restrictions to be removed. One immediate result of the conference was the conclusion of a series of bilateral treaties between Uruguay and Paraguay, Uruguay and Bolivia, Argentina and Paraguay, and Argentina and Bolivia, mostly concerning joint river interests. By another convention Argentina, Brazil and Uruguay departed from general Pan American trade policy by pledging not to seek under the most-favored-nation clause any special concession granted to Bolivia and Paraguay by any one of them. The whole conference represents an extension of the trend towards regional economic accords among American republics.

Inter-American Bar Association Conference.

The first session of the new Inter-American Bar Association met at Havana March 24-28 with over 600 representatives from 46 member bar associations in sixteen countries. Round-tables on subjects of especial interest to particular groups of delegates followed the plenary meetings. Throughout, great interest was shown in the subject of hemisphere defense. The resolutions adopted concerned devotion to democracy, international law and correct international conduct, the publication of volumes on American legal principles and systems, aeronautical law, legal standards and ethics, and the establishment of an academy of comparative and international law at Havana.

Wartime Economics Conference.

Delegates from 20 American nations, representing 46 American Associations for Commerce and Production, assembled at Montevideo May 28-June 10 for the Conference of American Associations for Commerce and Production to study wartime American economic conditions and to urge increased cooperation by official organizations in studying problems. The conference adopted 30 proposals divided into the three sections in which the delegates met, general economic problems, encouragement of inter-American trade, and general questions. The more important included government intervention in business, creation of beneficial industries under private and official cooperation, the movement of capital to Latin America, coordination of trade policies to prevent unlimited competition, a central clearing arrangement to ease unstable currencies and rigid exchange controls, regional or bilateral customs unions, greater development of natural resources and reduction in cost of production and marketing of various commodities, uniform consular fees and activities in commercial matters, and the importance of the American maritime services. It urged the creation of an Inter-American Institute of Plant and Animal Quarantine and suggested that, pending its establishment, the countries represented at the River Plate Regional Conference sign bilateral conventions dealing with the subject; it approved the creation of a Permanent Council of American Associations for Commerce and Production, with headquarters in Montevideo.

Conference on Intellectual Cooperation.

The Cuban Committee on Intellectual Cooperation invited the other American national committees to the Second American Conference of National Committees on Intellectual Cooperation in Havana, Nov. 15-23. The general purpose of the meeting concerned basic principles and means of improving inter-American cultural and intellectual exchange, but many concrete matters were discussed like eliminating such obstacles as high tariffs on books, customs formalities and high postage rates, and measures to stimulate the cultural relations through movies, radio, music, art and the theater, and interchange of teachers and students. The conference invited to transfer to appropriate locations in the Americas such learned societies as the International Scientific Union, the International Union of Academies, the International Committee of Historical Sciences, and all other cultural associations now affected by the war. The section of government representatives recommended special passports and travel credentials for teachers, scientists and journalists acting in their special capacity for spreading mutual understanding and goodwill among American nations. On Nov. 20-22, in connection with this conference, was held a first regional meeting of the International Federation of University Women, which has six national associations in the Western Hemisphere—Argentina, Brazil, Canada, Mexico, Uruguay and the United States—and three unaffiliated associations—Chile, Panama and Peru. The discussions were centered on future association for cultural exchange and assistance for university women who are European refugees, and the need for more fellowships.

Other Conferences.

Among the other more important conferences held in the Americas were the following: the Intergovernmental Committee on Refugees at Ciudad Trujillo, Jan. 20-Feb. 3; the Fourth Annual Convention of the Inter-American Bibliographical and Library Association at Washington, Feb. 20-21; the Third General Assembly of the Pan American Institute of Geography and History at Lima, March 30-April 8; the third meeting of the Inter-American Union of the Caribbean at Port-au-Prince, in April; the Fourth Pan American Red Cross Conference at Santiago, Chile, in April, and the Inter-American Commission for the Coordination of Disaster Preparedness and Relief, June 24-30; at Lima; the Fifth Congress of the Postal Union of the Americas and Spain began Sept. 1 at Rio de Janeiro; the Fourth Pan American Highway Conference and the Second Inter-American Travel Congress at Mexico City, Sept. 15-24; and the Second Inter-American Congress of Municipalities in Santiago, Chile, Sept. 15-21.

International conferences held outside the Western Hemisphere might include the conference of Slav peoples in Moscow during August, the Inter-Allied Conference in London on Sept. 24, and the 'Council of Hispanidad' called by the Spanish Falange in Madrid for Oct. 24. The Inter-Allied Conference was attended by representatives of Great Britain, the Dominions, the Soviet, and the free governments of nine occupied European countries. It unanimously endorsed the Atlantic Charter as the guiding principles of a peace settlement and, concretely, established a central bureau for formulating and coordinating a program to meet Europe's urgent need for foodstuffs and other raw materials once hostilities have ceased. The Council of Hispanidad met to frame a program for closer relations between Spain and Latin America, for Fascism and away from democracy. Representatives of some of the American states attended the meeting at the expense of the Spanish government. See also BRAZIL; HAITI; NEW WORLD ORDER; PAN-AMERICAN AFFAIRS.