Asia, 1947-1970

This series contains correspondence, speeches, minutes, biographical information, reports, clippings, conference materials, legislative documents, photographs, maps, and printed material. The records date from 1947 to 1970, but most fall within the period 1955-1970.

The records document efforts of U.S. and Asian labor leaders to build free trade union movements in the region during the Post-World-War II and Cold War years. They are particularly valuable in illuminating relations among trade union and government officials. Specific subjects include: international educational and cultural exchange visits and efforts of trade union officials; work of the International Conference of Free Trade Unions and Asian-American Free Labor Institute; policy regarding the Vietnam War, peace negotiations and war relief efforts by trade union movements; nuclear testing in Pacific; human and political rights in Asian countries; Japanese Wage Research Center; Ceylon World Trade Fair; humanitarian aid to underdeveloped countries; and general American-Asian political affairs.

Correspondents include: George Brown, Irving Brown, James Carey, George Delaney, Harry Goldberg, William Green, Lew Johnson (Special Representative to Japan, 1961-63), Henry Kirsch, Ernest Lee, Jay Lovestone, George Meany, Philip Murray, Victor Reuther, Walter Reuther, Michael Ross, Waldemar B. Stack (Asian Representative), and Henry Rutz of the AFL-CIO. Tran Quoc Buu (President, Vietnamese Confederation of Labor), Gerald Daniel (Far East Representative, ICFTU), Thomas Holleran (Director, Trade Union Exchange Programs Division, U.S. Department of Labor), Edward Lonergan (Deputy Director, Trade Union Exchange Programs Division, U.S. Department of Labor), John Henning (U.S. Ambassador to New Zealand), Jose Hernandez (General Secretary, Philippines Trades Council), Koichi Kihata (President, Japanese Confederation of Labor, "DOMEI"), s. Nedzynski (Assistant General Secretary, ICFTU), Gerald O'Keefe (Director, Asian-American Free Labor Institute), Morris Paladino (Director, Asian-American Free Labor Institute), and Harry Pollak (Labor Advisor, United States Information Service).