Evening star., 1937-04-09
G00D-NE|GHB0R
POLICY APPLAUDED
ATTEXT|LEPARLEY
Representative of Ecuador
lnvokes 1t as Way to Get
40-Hour Week.
SECRET SESSION HELD
TO SALVE JAPANESE
1ncessant Criticism of Conditions
in Orient Is Cut Off From
Public Record.
BY BLAIR BOLLES.


world the way to universal economic
rapprochement, Carlos Doudebas,
speaking for the government of Ecua-
DOR, told the International Textile
Conference today.
DoudebaS invited the 81 countries
represented at the conference to fol-
low Mr.. Roosevelt's policy to attain
their general goal of a 40-hour week
and universal minimum wage level
in the textile industry as prelude to
world stabilization of all industry.
The President himself yesterday told
the 200 men here for the conference
he was in full sympathy with their
aims of lettering the economic and
social position of the textile workers
OF the world, and, incidentally, thereby
equalizing competition among textile
producing nations for the world mar
kets. The conference this morning
voted thanks to him for his interest
IN the parley.
Japanese Protected.
After Doudebas' uncontroversial
talk, the delegates adjourned their
open discussion at the Departmental
Auditorium and went into executive
session to save the feelings of the
japanese. The conference has been
attended by almost incessant criticism
of the textile industrialists of the Far
Eastern empire, and it was thought
best not to spread any more of the
criticism on the public record.
You know, ladies and gentlemen. j"
Doudebas said, that in South Amer
lea we are favorably impressed now
by the international good-neighbor
policy supported by the President of
the United States.
ALLOW me to hope that not only
nations, but also governments, en-
ployers and workers will follow always
the same good neighbor policy, and
that, in near future, we will be able
to see closer relationship and true
fraternity between the working class
and those who can help the workers,
because all other policy is bound to
destroy the only possible way to help
the progress of nations and the bet
ter1nent of human life"
Silk Price Decline Cited.
Japan, which seeks free trade in
textiles, however, reported openly that
the decline of the silk market in the
face of competition from rayon, an
American development, made 40
hour textile week in her country a
remote prospect, while British labor
delegates challenged directly the con-
tention of their compatriot employers
representatives that progress toward
a 40-hour week should be postponed
until labor conditions in the Far East
were improved, and that even then
there should be international regu-
latlon of hours and wages.
The abrupt drop of the raw silk
price prevents us from improving
working conditions for the time being"
said Takeo Katakura, japanese man
agement representative. He said the
New York raw silk price declined from
S6.25 in 1925 to ST Al in 1895. owing to
the swiftly increasing popularity of the
cheaper rayon, a chemically developed
textile.
This situation" he added, may
well be said to have influence on the
working conditions of other textile in
dustries in Japan, We can only state
that we are maintaining the present
scale under very trying circumstances.
Shortening of working hours in the in
dustry Immediately increases costs of
manufacture and leads to self -destruc-
ton OF the industry and the loss of
employment of 100000 people, who are
directly concerned with the silk in
dustry."
Alfred Roberts, secretary of the
Amalgamated Association of Card,
Blowing and Ring Loom Operatives.
and John Carver Hendry, secretary
OF the Scottish Council, carried the
fight for British labor this morning
against British managements apathy
toward the suggestion of a universal
4O-hour week, minimum wage level,
child labor control and operation on
the one-shift system.
Proposal Called Practicable.
The 40-hour week is a practicable
proposal and can be carried out with
out injury to the industry" Hendry
said. Roberts, who estimated that
100000 cotton textile workers are un-
employed in Britain, declared:
In our deliberations at this con-
ference, we cannot dismiss from our
minds the fact that a 40-hour week
offers the most hopeful means of allie
waiting this situation (of unemplov-
ment).
I'VE realize, however, that a country
which depends very largely upon ex-
ports for its existence and which has
to meet the fierce competition of ma
tions with longer hours and lower Ia
Dor standards, cannot hope to reduce
Its working week unilaterally without
meeting disaster.
Let me assure you, however. that
In the event of recommendations from
this conference finding international
acceptance, the full force of our in
dustrial power will be used, with or
without governmental action, to Sc
cure for Great Britain these benefits
which the International Labor Office.
through its constituent members. re-
CARDS as essential for the well-being