Evening star., 1944-05-17

| nlzed as "a LANDMARK IN WorlC
thinking"
Il am glad to have this opportu-
nifty of indorsing its specific terms
on behalf of the United States,
Mr. Roosevelt continued. Il trust
also that within a short time its
specific terms will be wholeheartedly
Endorsed by all of the United Ma
tons"
The President also expressed the
hope that the declaration marks
the beginning of new and better
day. for the suffering people in
occupied lands.
The text of Mr.. Roosevelt's re.
marks follow:
"It is great pleasure to have you
with us here in the White House
again. AS pointed out to you when
we last met-two and a half years
ago-taking part in conference OF
the international Labor Organiza-
ton is not new experience for me
I take pride in the fact that I was
permitted to play part in the first
conference of the organization that
was held here in Washington in
1919.
Praises Delegates for Courage.
Those were indeed trying days
when last we met in 1941. The fate
of the free peoples of the entire
world hung in the balance Yet with
the courage and foresight that have
always characterized the Interna-
tional Labor Organization. you, as
representative of governments,
workers and employers, had the
boldness to come together from all
parts of the world to formulate
plans for reconstruction.
You have been meeting in Phil
adelphia where, 1853 years ago, the
fathers of this republic affirmed GER
tain truths to be self evident. They
declared that among other things
all men are endowed by their Gre
ator with certain inalienable rights
among them life, liberty and the
pursuit of happiness. In these words
are expressed the abiding purpose
of all peoples imbued with the ideals
Of freedom and democracy.
'The declaration which you have
formulated in Philadelphia may
we'll acquire similar significance.
In 1t you have reaffirmed principles
which are the essential bulwarks of
any permanent peace With the ex-
panding use of machinery and the
revolution in transportation it is
well that the world should recognize
the fundamental principle of your
declaration: Poverty anywhere
constitutes danger to prosperity
everywhere This principle is a
guide to all of our international
economic deliberations.
Central Aim of Policy.
"You have affirmed the right of
all human beings to material we'll
being and spiritual development un-
der conditions of freedom and dig
nifty and under conditions of eco
nomic security and opportunity. The
attainment of those conditions must
constitute central aim of national
and international policy. Indeed, the
Worthiness and success of interna-
tional policies will be measured in
the future by the extent to which
they promote the achievement of
this end.
Your declaration sums up the as
pirations of an epoch which has
known two world wars. I confidently
believe that future generations will
look back upon it as landmark in
world thinking. I am glad to have
this opportunity of indorsing its
specific terms on behalf of the
United States. l trust also that
within a short time its specific terms
will be wholeheartedly Endorsed by
all of the United Nations.
LAS look over the report of your
work, see that you have, for the
first time in history, set out in a
form which could be adopted as a
treaty by the nations, a particularly
series OF social objectives. note
that among other things they in
clude full employment wages and
working conditions calculated to in
sure a just share of the fruits of