HC Deb 17 May 1944 vol 400 cc153-4
1. Mr. Petherick

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs, how many States are taking part in the current I.L.O. Conference; and which of these paid their subscriptions for this year and last.

The Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs (Mr. Eden)

Forty-three States took part in the recent International Labour Organisation Conference at Philadelphia. I am circulating the full list in the OFFICIAL REPORT. As regards the second part of the question, information as to which States members have paid contributions for this year and last year has not yet been published.

Mr. Petherick

May I ask when it will be published? It does seem rather important, in order that we may know how much real attention these States pay to the International Labour Organisation.

Mr. Eden

My information is that finance is dealt with in private sittings, but that audited accounts are published later, and audited accounts have been published for 1942, but not later. I agree that it would be desirable if they were published more quickly.

Mr. Mander

Is this not a part of the continual attempt to discredit any form of international arrangement?

Mr. Eden

If I may say so, I think it is an advantage for any international organisation to make public its finances as soon as it reasonably can.

Following is the list:

The following States members of the International Labour Organisation took part in the Conference at Philadelphia:

Argentina, Australia, Belgium, Brazil, Canada, Chile, China, Colombia, Costa Rica, Cuba, Czechoslovakia, Dominica, Ecuador, Egypt, Eire, Ethiopia, France, Great Britain, Greece, Hayti, India, Iraq, Iberia, Luxemburg, Mexico, Netherlands, New Zealand, Norway, Panama, Persia, Peru, Poland, Union of South Africa, Sweden, Switzerland, Turkey, Uruguay, United States of America, Venezuela, Yugoslavia.

In addition the following non-member States were invited to attend the Conference and sent accredited representatives:

Iceland, Nicaragua, Paraguay.