DEPARTMENT OF STATE Memorandum of Conversation
Date: February 17, 1950
Subject: Suggested Increased Labor Representation
Participants: Messrs. Murray, Potofsky, Goldberg and Ross - CIO S - The Secretary ARA - Willard F. Barber
Copies to: S, U, S/S, S/S - Mr. McWilliams ARA - Mr. Pearson E/L - Mr. Swayzee Mr. Barber SA/M - Mr. McDermott NEA - Mr. McGhee
Mr. Potofsky gave a number of reasons why we should use more Puerto Ricans in dealing with Latin American countries. He is interested in a labor school in Puerto Rico; he had talked about this with the Governor. Students should include people from various Latin countries; they would learn of the American way of life, our ideology, and our method of approach to political, industrial and labor problems. Mr. Potofsky had not as yet discussed this with Oscar Chapman.
Mr. Potofsky urged that State and other agencies use labor representation in policy making. He did not emphasize the issue of Labor Attaches, but Mr. Goldberg \(Arthur Goldberg, CIO General Council\) did.
Mr. Murray said that he was concerned with the problem of Israel; Mr. Green and he had called on the President; AFL and CIO plan to be hosts to Mr. Ben Gurion for mass meetings in this country to appeal for voluntary contributions; the Israelis are threatened by the Arabs who are being armed by the British; the U.S. should see to it that the people of Israel have a chance at a decent international livelihood.
I pointed out the complicated aspects of the tangled web of which Israel is now a part. I referred to my talk with Henry Morgenthau and others, and reviewed some diplomatic and military aspects of the problems arising in the Eastern Mediterranean. I mentioned the need to help the Arab refugees.
Regarding Mr. Potofsky's idea that Puerto Rican labor be brought to the mainland instead of British West Indians, I made no comment. As to labor representation, I warned that when we get under way with Point IV we may "bleed labor white" to get competent and hard-working people. Mr. Potofsky gave some ground here, saying that they did not have very many good people to spare. I said that I was not interested in the prestige aspect of naming labor delegates as such to councils and delegations but was talking about real hard work of a constructive nature. No specific commitments were asked or made.
Mr. Murray handed me a copy of the attached statement which he intends to release to the press tomorrow.
Attachment: As stated.
ARA:WFBarber:amw:mve 2-18-50
February 17, 1950
STATEMENT OF CIO VIEWS ON INTERNATIONAL PROBLEMS
The Congress of Industrial Organizations believes that this nation must strive, actively and constantly, to achieve genuine disarmament throughout the world. The people of the world have a deep longing for peace and stability. They look to the United States and its citizens, more than to any other nation, for leadership toward the achievement of a permanent peace and rising living standards.
The members of the CIO continue to look upon the United Nations as the best medium for developing an orderly world out of the current chaos of jealous and exaggerated nationalism. The UN, together with its commissions and agencies, have proven that men and women from many nations can work together effectively and constructively for the benefit of mankind. We are cognizant of the many political differences that have arisen in the United Nations; but we feel that the wholesome work accomplished by the UN should not be obscured by political stalemates, unscrupulous use of the veto, harsh words, or temporary boycotts.
The United Nations is the only arena for adequate discussion and action on civilization's universal hope for complete disarmament as a prelude to lasting peace.
The CIO recognizes that in the current state of world security, the Government of the United States is justified in proceeding with the development of the hydrogen bomb and other weapons.
We, together with workers in every land, know that the hydrogen bomb is no guarantee of security or salvation. A world civilization which rests on the hydrogen bomb or any other type of weapon is a civilization whose years are numbered. Without genuine understanding among all mankind, lasting peace is impossible.
We appreciate the efforts of the Government of the United States to find a method of achieving such a basis for peace. The CIO expresses the hope that the search for peace among governments and peoples will be continued unrelentingly.
Respect for the American viewpoint on these matters can be won by militant democratic policies, not by appeasement.
We believe that the following policies, if aggressively carried out and constantly explained to the people of the world will benefit all mankind:
1. Rapid acceleration of the Point IV program to aid undeveloped areas. The Point IV Program, if it is handled with imagination and foresight, can prove to be one of democracy's most effective answers to the propaganda of economic delusion preached by totalitarians everywhere.
2. Civilian control of atomic energy, research and development, with vastly increased emphasis on programs to make the benefits of atomic energy available to the people of the world.
3. Resistance to those forces of appeasement, both left and right, which would sacrifice our best democratic traditions in the interest of temporary and insecure "bargaining" with Communist and Fascist Governments. The CIO has, within the last week, reaffirmed "our uncompromising and unconditional opposition to all forms of totalitarianism, Fascist, Communist and Falangist". In this connection, the CIO strongly believes that the United States Government should not send an ambassador to Fascist Franco Spain or take any other steps which could be interpreted by the Spanish people as approval of the inhuman Franco regime.
4. Every possible step to aid the people of Israel, along the lines of the statement presented to President Truman on February 10 by spokesmen for both the CIO and the AFL. Reports of recent shipments of military supplies, personnel and funds from Great Britain to the Arab states of the Middle East cause grave concern that a second war of aggression against the democratic state of Israel is being prepared. We believe the American Government should use all its influence to halt this assistance to the military ambitions of certain feudal rulers. If such efforts fail, we should make available to the people of Israel the opportunity to buy defensive armaments in this country. In addition, we should expedite a second loan to Israel to help speed the building of this remarkable bastion of democracy and of enlightened 20th Century economic progress in the Middle East.
5. Economic assistance to the hard pressed millions of Latin Americans. Such economic aid-for which we have a special responsibility-coupled with long-needed encouragement to the democratic political forces South of the Rio Grande, is imperative as an offset to the rapid spread of military dictatorial regimes in the southern sector of the Western Hemisphere.
Dictatorial or reactionary regimes have been established in Argentina, Peru, Venezuela, Colombia and Panama. Would-be dictators are ready to bid for power in other Latin American nations. Legitimate trade union movements have been suppressed and their leaders assassinated or driven into exile. Cherished institutions of democracy, such as freedom of the press, speech and association and other basic civil rights, are vanishing. It is obvious that these threats to the rights of humanity among the countries of Central and South America are inhuman in themselves and tend to undermine our own democratic institutions at home.
In this connection, the United States Government can get a praise- worthy example for democracy in Latin America through the continuance and implementation of effective policies to aid the people of Puerto Rico.
A CIO delegation, which recently returned from that island, is thoroughly convinced that the people of Latin America are watching our every move in Puerto Rico to determine, in their own minds, the real meaning of American aid and friendship. We recommend the following steps so far as Puerto Rico is concerned:
\(a\) Strengthening, through every possible means, the economic welfare of the island, through financial aid, development of industry, improvement in educational, health and welfare services, and encouragement to the organized labor movement.
\(b\) Immediate establishment of a labor school in connection with the University of Puerto Rico for the training of responsible and enlightened union members from both Puerto Rico and the rest of Latin America. The labor movement of Latin America is sorely handicapped by insufficient funds, lack of technical knowledge and continuing oppression. Development of a United States sponsored labor school, with a faculty of capable teachers drawn from the ranks of Government, labor and industry, would have a dramatic and immediate effect on Latin American labor. It would prove a basis for giving the Latin American labor movement the technical equipment necessary to permit its effective functioning as a basic factor in the Latin American democratic movement.
6. Investigation and correction of reportedly widespread dissatisfaction with the operation of the program to bring into this country groups of migrant workers from Central American areas. We are convinced, from the nature of these reports, that the program is being inequitably administered and needs a thorough overhauling. We recommend that the President, under his existing powers, appoint a representative commission to make an immediate and thorough study of the problem. It is essential that there be adequate representation of the American labor movement on any such commission
7. Appointment to the staffs of our embassies throughout Latin America of capable Spanish-speaking labor attaches who would have an understanding and a sympathetic approach to the workers' movement of those countries. Our first-hand reports from Latin America indicate that, with a few minor exceptions, American embassies in those countries are failing to reach or to maintain a sympathetic contact with the great labor movements.
8. Improved labor representation in U.S. Government agencies. The need for comprehensive labor representation in connection with Latin America merely highlights the needs which exist throughout the U.S. Government in the operation of its international programs. The American labor movement has channels of communication and relationships in foreign countries, the use of which is essential to the successful prosecution of a democratic American foreign policy. We believe that an immediate increase in labor representation in government agencies dealing with international matters will provide immediate and constructive benefits for peoples and governments not only in American but in the rest of the world.
The CIO, as a charter member of the International Confederation of Free Trade Unions, is strengthening its fraternal ties with the non-Communist labor unions of Europe, Asia and Latin America. This organization expects to play increasingly effective roles of assistance and cooperation with the labor movements of other nations. We know that there can be no democracy in any nation without the existence of an alert and effective trade union movement. Conscious of that fact, the CIO, at its Executive Board Meeting on February 15, 1950, created a new International Committee, headed by President Jacob Potofsky of the Amalgamated Clothing Workers of America, to act as a direct means of liaison with labor throughout the world.
Through this Committee, and through our organization generally, we pledge our support to all programs evolved by the United States Government which directly serve to aid the cause of world stability, democratic freedom and economic advancement.
PHILIP MURRAY President, CIO
JACOB POTOFSKY Chairman, CIO International Committee