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Frances PerkinsFrances Perkins
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Part:         Session:         Page of 912

Interviewer:

When you say “involve the Russians” you aren't referring to membership?

Perkins:

Yes. Membership and support.

Interviewer:

I don't understand this: I, how the Russians could participate, because of the nature of their Government; and, 2, how the I.L.O. could admit them as they are on the definitions of I.L.O. membership.

Perkins:

Well, we believed they could. You see, we believed that the Russians could give separate recognition, give the working people the right to elect a delegate. I think they could have. Well, they're members now. They came in last year, you know. It's been a long time.

But anyhow, we were of the opinion that they could and that it would be a good thing for all hands. This is important, because the split in the European labor movement springs but of this, you see. We didn't know that they were planning that. We didn't know that that was in their minds. I think if they had wanted to belong to it, they could have. I'm sure they could have found a way to do it. Anybody can find a way to do it, you see--if you want to give them independence for one purpose only, it could have been done. Let them have a meeting. Let them elect

somebody, or let a committee be appointed and let them elect





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