Office of the Historian

500.C115/326: Telegram

The Consul at Geneva (Gilbert) to the Secretary of State

Geneva, June 21, 1934—2 p.m.
[Received June 21—noon.]

178. For Secretary of Labor4 from Andrews.5 The International Labor Conference is having some difficulty although unemployment insurance and occupational disease convention seem to be going fairly well. Employers refuse to serve on 40–hour week committee engendering bitter feeling between workers and them. Workers are consistently outvoted by bloc of employers and majority of government representatives.

Workers say that they are fed up with treatment during past years and believe this conference definitely proves uselessness of their presence. Lewis6 believes that the American Federation of Labor may feel likewise.

My personal hope is that if we become members of the International Labor Organization our influence on government representatives of other countries would result in more progressive attitude at future conference with benefit to our labor because of higher standards in competing nations.

International Labor Office officials are very much embarrassed by action of reactionary delegates.

In view of this situation you may wish to consider the desirability of awaiting the return of the delegation which will permit of fuller explanation and review of situation before taking the definite step of joining the labor organization.

With best wishes for a successful settlement of steel controversy from all of us.

Gilbert
  1. Frances Perkins.↩
  2. Elmer F. Andrews, industrial commissioner for the State of New York and unofficial U. S. observer at the International Labor Conference.↩
  3. John L. Lewis, president of the United Mine Workers of America and unofficial U. S. observer at the International Labor Conference.↩