Foreign Relations of the United States, 1949, Eastern Europe; The Soviet Union, Volume V

Under Secretary’s Meetings, Lot 53 D 250

Memorandum by the Director of the Executive Secretariat (Humelsine)¹

confidential

[Washington,] June 6, 1949.

Under Sectary’s Meeting

formation of a free trade union international

The attached document was considered at the Under Secretary’s Meeting on June 3, 1949.

The recommendations of this paper were noted with approval with the following reservations:

(1) The exploitation of information media should be approached carefully in order not to give the impression that this Government is sponsoring the Free Trade Union International.

(2) “Category A” status in the UN and its specialized agencies for the Free Trade Union International will be given special consideration in the Under Secretary’s Meeting before action on this recommendation is required. (Mr. Thorp has action on this.)

(3) Include mention of Latin America in recommendation #3 if ARA desires this inclusion. (This question is being currently considered by ARA.)

(4) Machinery for extending and regularizing U.S. labor groups in foreign activities must be considered in conjunction with the Department’s reorganization.

This document is being distributed to all division chiefs in the geographic offices for their guidance. Amendments to this document will be made known as they occur.

Carlisle H. Humelsine

1. This memorandum was designated document UM D-44, June 6, 1949, and was circulated to the Under Secretary’s Meeting as a covering paper to a copy of the memorandum of May 24 from Brown to Webb, p. 831.