tions of observers from non-metropolitan territories, departure which was entirely new in the history
the Organisation.
In reply to Mr. Calderón Puig, he explained that metropolitan governments concerned, after con- dering the stage of development of their various Tron-metropolitan territories, would decide which of those territories had reached such a stage of develop- ment that they could attend meetings of the I.L.O. with a sense of responsibility, learn something from its work, and themselves make a contribution to that work. He had already stated at the last session that Workers' group was taking a realistic view and did not ask that all non-self-governing territories should be represented by observer delegations at the Conference; anyone who knew anything about non- metropolitan territories would appreciate that in certain cases it would be impossible to form a repre- sentative tripartite delegation. Hence it was obvious that the metropolitan government concerned would have to decide which non-metropolitan territories, among all those for which it was responsible, had reached a sufficiently advanced stage of develop- ment to justify asking the Governing Body to give Y them observer status.
Sir Guildhaume Myrddin-Evans once more con- firmed that the proposals represented a complete departure from previous practice and repeated that his Government accepted the proposals in good faith and intended to act upon them.
Mr. Sen said that as a result of Sir Guildhaume's assurances he was satisfied that the proposals represented a new departure in the practice of the United Kingdom Government. He had been some- what surprised to hear Mr. Wallin say that there could be no question of separate delegations in the case of Belgium and the Belgian Congo. Never- theless, after the assurances he had received, he would vote for the proposals.
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Sir Richard Snedden did not wish to enter into the debate but said that he would vote for the proposals.
The Chairman thought that there was unanimous agreement on the proposals submitted by the Workers' group and that it would not be necessary to take a vote.
Mr. Waline did not wish to press for a vote but said that if the proposals were presented as a whole he would be obliged to abstain because he could not commit himself to the legal and political implications of paragraph (3). On the other hand, he supported paragraphs (1) and (2) of the proposals.
Mr. Yllanes Ramos also said that he would abstain because he questioned the legal basis of the proposals.
Mr. Calderón Puig expressed his appreciation of the important statement made by Sir Guildhaume Myrddin-Evans.
If no vote was to be taken he wished to place on record the fact that he was unable to take a stand on the proposals for the time being because he had not had an opportunity to consult his Government.
Mr. Uzcategui recognised the difficulties involved in the problems under consideration. He would support the proposals, but wished to place on record the hope and desire of the Venezuelan Government that the progress initiated by their adoption would continue.
The Chairman recalled that it had been suggested that the text of the three decisions taken by the
Governing Body at its 123rd Session should be incorporated in paragraph (1) of the prescat proposals.
The Governing Body approved this suggestion.
Subject to that amendment and to the reservations expressed by Mr. Waline, Mr. Yllanes Ramos and Mr. Calderón Puig, the Gomerning Body approved the proposal submitted by the Workers' group after_cOM- sultation with various members of the Governing Body, in the following terms:
The Governing Body, being desirous of bringing non-metropolitan territories into closer association with the work of the International Labour Organisa- tion-
(1) confirms the decisions taken on this subject at the 123rd Session of the Governing Body, namely, to instruct the Director General *: (a) to invite the interested governments to explore, in consultation with the most representative organisations of employers and workpeople concerned, and in such manner as appears to them appropriate, methods of developing in practice the powers already existing under article 3 paragraph 3, of the LLC. Constitution enabling States Members to appoint, in appropriate circumstances, additional ad- visers from non-metropolitan territories to each of their delegates, and, farther, to draw the special attention of governments to this problema in the letter of invitation for the 37th (1954) Session of the Inter- national Labour Conference;
(b) to continue the study of appropriate methods of promoting the application of Conventions and Recommendations fa non-metropolitan territories!
(c) to keep under continuing review the
possibilities of further developments in working relations with such regional or ganisations as tthe Caribbean Commission, the South Pacific Commission and the Commission for Technical Co-operation in Africa South of the Sahara which are largely concermed with matters affecting non-metropolitan territories, and of other solutions tending towards the more effect ive application of LL.O. policies in regions where non-metropolitan territories pre- dominate:
(2) notes with approwal the practice whereby selected non-metropolitan territories are invited. to participate in the work of regional con- ferences and expresses the hope that this practice will be deweloped as appropriate and under existing conditions;
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(3) agrees that, on tihe recommendation of
responsible Member State, where the latter, considers that this would be appropriate having regard to the constitutional, political, economic and social development of any non-metropolitan territory for which that Member State is re- sponsible, such nom-metropolitan territory may be invited, through the Metropolitan State concerned, to participate by means of tripartite observer delegation in sessions of the General Conference with the rights and status accorded to observers under the prese Standing Orders of the Conference. The sitting closed at 6 p.m.
A. M. MALIK.
1 See Minutes of the 123rd' Session of the Gomerning Body, Seventh Sitting, page 68.
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