24 AUGUST 1934, Page 2

* * * * U.S.A. and I.L.O.

The decision of the United States of America to enter into full membership of the International Labour Organization at Geneva is most encouraging. The ground has been in preparation for some time, and rela- tions between Mr. Harold Butler, the Director of the I.L.O., and the Department of Labour at Washington have been particularly cordial. The new move should be estimated at neither more nor less than it is worth. It has no direct bearing on the probability of the United States joining the League itself. The difficulties in the way of that are still formidable, though in all practical matters co-operation betikeen Washington and the political side at Geneva promises to be increasingly cordial. The principle that a State may join the Labour Organization without becoming a Member of the League was established long ago by Germany, and at the present moment Brazil is a member of I.L.O. but no longer of the League. The prospect of the appearance at International Labour Conferences, and meetings of the Governing Body, of American representatives imbued with the ideas of labour conditions which the New Deal has inspired arouses interesting anticipations. Viewed broadly President Roosevelt's decision is a move of real importance in the field of international co-operation.