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Frances PerkinsFrances Perkins
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time. Now, I want to tell you something. You be awfully careful, and don't let anybody sell you the idea that the World Federation of Trade Unions should be a consultative body to the United Nations.”

“Why not? What's the matter?”

“Well,” I said, “in the first place, we don't know who makes it up. This is a self-appointed body. It does not exist. They're meeting in Paris now to organize. It's a brand new thing, just blown up out of the blue. Kuznetzov, the head of the Russian Labor Ministry--really it is, if you call it by its right name, but he's the head of the labor bloc-- is a prime mover in it. He's a very intelligent man. He's thought it all out. Sidney Hillman and the C.I.O. are all there. Our A.F. of L. is not there.”

“Hm?” he said. “A.F. of L's not there?”

“No,” I said. “They wouldn't go. The British trade unions are not there, except one or two individuals who've gone on a personal basis, but not as delegates.”

“Hm? Bevin's outfit wouldn't go?”

“No, they won't go because they think these people are --well, they think they're slightly on the woolly side. They think they're he more unstable elements in the labor movement of the world. That's what Bevin said to me: ‘'They're the more unstable elements of the labor unions of every country.’”





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