Evening star., 1940-08-04
TofaIitarian Sweep
Has Crushed Labor
In Conquered Lands
international Group
To Abandon Geneva
For This Hemisphere
BY OLIVER MCKEE.

Like the institutions of democracy,
labor organizations have suffered a
devastating blow in the sweep of
totalitarianism in Europe. Through
out the conquered territories, the
Nazis not only are liquidatiing trade
unions. but also are rounding up
many persons who before the war
played leading part in organiz-
ing industrial and other workers
according to reports reaching
Washington.
Because of the hostility of the
totalitarian powers to labor organ
izations, and the difficulties which
1t now faces in continuing work from
It's headquarters in Geneva, the In
ternational Labor Office, an affiliate
of the League of Nations. is expected
to seek new home, perhaps in the
Western Hemisphere. The economic
and financial sections of the League
are planning to move to Princeton,
N. j.
50 Countries Allied.
More than so countries, including
the United States, are members of
the International Labor Organiza-
ton. This country contributes about
s240 900 annually to the expenses of
the I, L. O., and Great Britain pro-
vides similar amount. Other coun-
tries give lesser sums. The I. L. 0.
has a large staff of experts, and its
studies of social and labor problems
cover wide range.
Japan withdrew from the I. L. o.
sometime ago. In its totalitarian
system, Japan. like Germany and
Italy, apparently has no place for
organizations either of workers or
employers. Free trade unions have
disappeared in Spain, Czecho-Slo-
vakia, Poland and Austria. In Hol-
land, Belgium, Norway. and Den
mark, the Nazis are either liquidat-
ing existing labor organizations or
placing their operations under dras-
tic controls. In France, the future
Of trade unions seems uncertain.
Italy Dropped Out.
oC4OIC CllC W al GlldI
600 workers were represented in the
membership of the I. L. o. Though
no official figures are available, the
membership represented is believed
to have declined substantially since
the outbreak of the war last Sep
tember. Italy resigned from the I.
L. 0. last December Several coun-
tries, now occupied by the Nazis,
have paid their dues to the I. L. o.
this year, though at present pre-
vented from taking a full part in its
activities.
In sharp contrast to the continent
Of Europe, where trade unions are
being liquidated over a wide front,
organized labor was never stronger
or more influential than in Great
Britain today. British workers are
virtually at one in demanding a war
to the finish against Hitlerism. La
Dor is well represented in the Brit
ish war cabinet. The Trades Union
Congress in Great Britain has ex-
tended fun support to the govern;
ment's war program and is Coop
Grating with the government in Sc
curing the Tnhst effective functioning
of the national economy. In Can
ada the Trades and Labor Congress
has also supported, without reserva-
tions, the Dominion's war policy.
Japan Has Withdrawn.
Though Japan has withdrawn
from the I. L. O.. China is still a
member and so is India. Sixteen
American states took part in the
regional I. L. o. conference held at
Havana last November at the invi-
tation of the Cuban government.
Because of the international situa-
ton, which has limited it's work in
Europe, the I. L. o. is expected to
give increasing attention to improv-
ing labor standards in Western
Hemisphere countries.
John G. Winant, director of the
international Labor Office and
former Governor of New Hampshire,
recently returned to the United
States from Geneva and is now in
Washington. Carter Goodrich is the
United States Government repre-
sentative on the governing body.
Robert Watt represents American
labor organizations, and Henry I.
Hartman, former president of the
United States Chamber of Com
merce, represents employers organ
izations in the councils of the I. L. O.
NO country remains unaffected"
said the 1910 yearbook of the I. L. o.
in discussing the social and eco
nomic implications of the Euro
pean war. 1T is clear that however
the area of actual hostilities may be
limited the economic repercussions
of the present war will soon deeply
affect the lives of the masses of the
people in all countries"