File No. 763.72119/672a
The Secretary of State to the Ambassador in Russia ( Francis)
1521. For James Duncan:1
The following cablegram was sent to Lindqvist, Oudegeest, Appleton, Jouhaux:
The Executive Council of the American Federation of Labor in session after due deliberation upon invitations received from Lindqvist and from Oudegeest of Amsterdam, Holland, to send delegates to a conference proposed to be held at Stockholm September 17 decided that we regard all such conferences as premature and untimely and can lead to no good purpose. We apprehend that a conference such as is contemplated would rather place obstacles in the way to democratize the institutions of the world and hazard the liberties and opportunities for freedom of all peoples. Therefore, the American Federation of Labor with its 2,500,000 members cannot accept invitation to participate in such a conference. If an international trade union conference is to be held it should be at a more opportune time than the present or the immediate future, and in any event the proposals of the American Federation of Labor for international conference should receive further and more sympathetic consideration. Shall be glad to continue correspondence. Gompers.
Executive Council sends greetings and best wishes for full success your mission for cooperation, freedom and democracy. Samuel Gompers.
- First Vice President of the American Federation of Labor, member of the special mission to Russia.↩