TB-PH-WEL 15 INTEENATIONAL CONFERENCE OP SOCIAL WORK PUBLIC HEALTH AND WELFARE TECHNICAL BULLETIN PH&W GHQ SCAP APO 500 August 1948 Note: It is the purpose of this bulletin to.provide information con- cerning Japanese participation in the International Conferences on Social Work held in 1928, 1932, 1936 and 1948. (A representative of Welfare Division, PH&W, GHQ, SCAP, attended the Pourth International Conference held in the United States in April 1948.) v 1, General According to its constitution The International Conference of Social Work is non-governmental, non-political and non*rsectarian and does not undertake activities of an operational nature. The International Conference is governed by a Permanent Committee.which elects an Executive Committee consisting of twenty persons. The Executive Committee has charge of the conference between meetings of the Permanent Committee. It is the purpose of the International Conference to provide an international forum for discussion of social work and related issues and promote the exchange of information and experience workers and social agencies throughout the world. According to the constitution adopted by the conference in 1948, an additional purpose is to facilitate and promote cooperation between all international organizations related to social welfare, particularly between these organizations and the United Nations. Three International Conferences on Social Work were held prior to 1948, The first such conference was hold in Paris, Prance, in 1928; the second in Prankfort, Germany, in 1932 and the third in London, England, in 1936, Plans were developed for a fourth conference to bo held in 1940 in Brussels, Belgium, but this conference was cancelled because of the war in Europe. No International Conference was hold, therefore, during the twelve year period between 1936 and 1948. 2. Japan Home Committee for International Conference on Social Work Japan has participated in the International Conferences on Social Work since the first conference was held in 1928. The Japan Bed Cross was the official agency designated to manage the domestic business affairs of the first two International Conferences held in 1928 and 1932, Prior to the third conference, however, the responsibility for this work was transferred to the Central Social Work Association (at present the Japan Social Work Association), The Japan Home Committee for International Conference on Social Work was established by Central Social Work Association. The committee consists of a chairman and several members. The President of Japan Social Work Association is the chairman. The members are recommended by the chairman. The committee has its office in Japan Social Work Association. There are several standing committee members and secretaries appointed by the chairman from the members of committee. 3, Fourth International Conference of Social Work a. Preliminary Meeting In September 1947 a meeting' of persons interested in the International Conference of Social Work was held in Brussels, Belgium for the purpose of planning for the fourth conference. It was agreed that the meetings of the International Conference should be revived and that the next meeting would be held in the Uhited States. b. Meetings in the United States The Fourth International Conference of Social Work was held in Atlantic City and New York City from 17 to 28 April 1948, The meetings in Atlantic City included sessions jointly sponsored'by the International Conference of Social Work, the National Conference of Social Work (United States) and the American Association of Social Workers (United States), Hound table discussions were held under the auspices of the International Conference of Social Work. The program of the conference is attached (Inclosure l). . . A report of the meetings of the conference and action taken is set forth in the article by Kathryn Close, "Rallying Point for the World," which appeared in the Survey Midmonthly for May 1948. (Inclosure 2 to this bulletin). f ' .■ > •’ * / • .4, Previous International Conferences of Social Work a. First International Conference, The first International Conference on Social Work was held in Paris on July 9-13, 1S28. Forty- two (42) nations participated, Theconference was carried on in five commissions': (l) Organization of social work in general; (2) Social Work training; (3) Methods of case work; (4) Social work and industry; (5) Social work and social hygiene. : • . , * * The conference was attended by IS.Japanese delegates including* . Mr. T. Okubo and Mr, K, Hayakawa, Japanese Bed Cross; Mr, J, Miki, Reconstruction Board, Japanese Government; Prof, R. Megata, Kyoto Higher Technological School; Mr. S, Watanabe, Niigata Normal School; ftr, K. Masuda, Social Welfare Section, Hyogo Prefecture! Government; Mr, G, Sayama, Eoishikawa Buddhism Cultural School, Tokyo; Mr. I* Yamazaki, Social Welfare Bureau, Home Office, Japanese Government: Mr, M, Pujioka, Tokyo School of Blind Technology; Prof, K, Otani, Ctani University, Kyoto; Mr, N, Sakenobu (Vice-President), Commissioner in Europe, Japanese Red Cross; Mr. M* Fujino, Secretary, 'Social Welfare Bureau, Home Office, Japanese Government; Mr, T, Ishikawa, Kurashiki Institute for Labor Science; Mr. G. Kashida, Health Bureau, Home Office, Japanese Government; Mr, K, Taga, Fukuoka Hospital, Imperial Gift Relief Association'; -Mrs. H. Mashima, Nurse, Clinic for Laborer?, Tokyo,; ' ‘ On July 11, 1928 at the Conference, two reports on Construction and Results of Osaka district social welfare commissi6ner,f and ”Results of Employment Offices and Public Pawnshops” were read by Mr, Okubo and Mr, Sakenobu respectively. A pamphlet entitled nSocial Work in Japan” compiled by the Japanese Red Cross was submitted to the conference. b. Second International Conference. A total of one thousand two hundred (1200) representing thirty-four nations attended the second International Conference of Social Work held in Frankfort, Germany in July 1932. The general theme of the conference was ”Social Work and Family”. The Japanese representatives who attended the Conference were: Mr, A. Matsui, Osaka Mainichi Social Work Corporation; Mr. T. Shimadzu, Japanese Red Gross; Mr, A, Saito, Secretary, Social Welfare Bureau, Home Office, Japanese Government; Prof, K. Kitabatake, Sociology Department, Ryukoku University, Kyoto; Mr, R, Abiko; Dr, S, Matsui, member of the Board cf Directors, Japanese Red Cross, Only six Japanese delegates attended the conference because of the low exchange rate of Japanese money and the lack of understanding about this conference on the part of the Japanese, The following papers were read by Japanese representatives at the conference; Family and Social Work in Japan; The Programs of Saiseikai (Imperial-Gift Foundation for Medical Relief); Social Welfare Activities of the Osaka Mainichi (newspaper) Social Work Corporation, A photograph-album showing social institutions in Japan was also submitted to the conference. At a session of the Sixth Commission, Dr, S, Matsui, Member of the Board of Directors, Japanese Red Cross, delivered a speech on 1TAdult Education in Japan”. c. Third International Conference. In July 1936 the Third International Conference of Social Work was held in London, England, The subject and contents of the discussion were made known ahead of time so that persons attending could have prepared, ”Social Work and the Community” was the general theme of the conference. About 1,400 peeple representing 30 different countries registered; 408 from the United States and 198 from England* Prior to the third International Conference on Social Work hold in 1936 an International summer school was held for a week with the enrollment of about 200 students in order to study social work in Great Britain accord- ing to the requests of the social workers from several countries. The executive hoard issued a handbook to assist in the preliminary studies on the subjects to be discussed. Japan sent more than fifteen delegates* including Mr. J. Kitaoka, Labor Department, Social Affairs Bureau, Home Ministry; Mr, M. Kono, All Japan Labor League; Mr, M. Shibusawa, All Japan Industrial Group Association,who were attending the International League in Geneva at that time and Mr, A. Yamaguchi, Mitsui Social Work Foundation, 4 PROGRAM FOURTH INTERNATIONAL CONFERENCE OF SOCIAL WORK Atlantic City, New York City, United States April 19A& general’ SESSIONS Saturday. April 17 (Joint Session with the National Conference of Social Work) INTERNATIONAL WELFARE PROGRAMS 8:30 P.M, 1. The Work of the Social Commission and the Social v elfare Serviced of the United Nations Secretariat* Speaker: “Dr* George F* Davidson, Deputy Minister of Welfare, Ottawa, Canada* .. 2* International Children’s Emergency Fund, Speaker: Dr. Ludwik Rajchman, Chairman Executive Board, Internation- al Children’s Emergency Fund, Paris, France.’ 3* International Labour Organization Speaker: Dr. Daniel S* Gerig, Social Insurance Section, Internation- al Labour Office, Montreal, Canada, Sunday, April 18 (Joint Session with the National Conference of Social Work) INTERNATIONAL WELFARE PROGRAMS 10:00 A,M, 1, International Refugee Organization' Speaker: Martha H. Biehle, Operations Officer, U,S, Office of Preparatory Commission International Refugee Organization Washington, D.C* 2* World Health Organization * Speaker: Dr# William P, Forrest, D.P.H#, Assistant Director, Head- quarters Office, World Health Organisation, Interim Commission, New York* . - Inclosure 1# 3. Voluntary Agency Programs Speaker; George E. Haynes, General Secretary, National Council of Social Service, London, England. Sunday, April 18 i (Joint Session with the American Association of Social Workers) INTERNATIONAL ACTION FOR SOCIAL WELFARE 2:30 P ,M. Speaker: Donald S. Howard, President, American Association of Social Workers, Director, Dept, of Social Work Admin- istration, Russell Sage Foundation, New York, A:30 P.M, Reception for Social Workers From Abroad — Under Auspices of the American Association of Social Workers. Monday. April 19 2:00-3:30 P.M. Round Table Discussion: Material and Personal Aid and Rehabilita- tion, A:00-5:30 P.M, Round Table Discussion; The Respective Roles of Mass and Individ- ualized Measures. 5:30 P.M. Reception - Under Auspices of American National Red Cross. Monday, April 19 8:30 P.M. 1. Post-War Needs in Western Europe and Social Measures Established to Meet Them, Speaker: Dr. Rene Sand, President, International Conference of Social Work and President International Committee of Schools of Social Work, Brussels, Belgium. 2. Post-War Needs and Social Measures Established to Meet Them in the United Kingdom, Speaker; George E. Haynes, General Secretary, National Council of Social Service, London, England, 3, Special Needs in Rural and Undeveloped Areas and How Social Ytark Can Help. Speaker; J.. M. Kuraarappa, Institute of Social Science, Bombay, India. Tuesday, April 20 : ’ ■’ ' •• ■ •' . ■ ; 2:00-3:30 P.M, F.ound Table Discussion; Housing Programs, A:30-$:30 P.M, F.ound Table Discussion: The Respective Roles of Governmental and , . , Voluntary Agencies. 5:30 P.M, Reception-Under Auspices of the National Conference of Catholic Charities and National Council of Catholic-Women* Wednesday, April 21 2:00-3:30 P.M. Round Table Discussion: Services for Relocated Individuals and Families A:00-$:30 Pound Table Discussion: Special Programs for Rural and Undeveloped Areas* 5;30 Reception-Under Auspices of the Association of the Junior Leagues .of America, Inc. and the Child Welfare League of America, BUSINESS SESSIONS .. Saturday, April 2L - 9?30A*M. Call to Order: Welcome, Presidential Address - Dr* Rene Sand : • Subject; Future Role of the’ International Conference of ‘So’cial ‘ Work. Report of Acting Secretary-General Joseph P. Anderson Report of Treasurer - George E, Haynes* Discussion of Presidential Address and Report* Discussion of Plan for the Conference Sessions and Adoption of Agenda and F.ules of Procedure* Appointment of Conference Committees. 12:30 P.M, Luncheon International Social Welfare Activities ■- and the place of the International Conference of Social Work, Speakers Sir Raphael Cilento, Director, Division of Social Activ- ities, United Nations, Lake Success, New York 2:30 P.M, Presentation of the Constitution Proposed by Preparatory Committee. Proposals for Regional Groups - Discussion and Action. Sunday. April 25 * 9*30 A.M, Presentation of Financial Plan and Budget for the International Conference of Social Work. Discussion and Action. 12:30 P.M, LUNCHEON (Jointly sponsored by the International Conference of Social Work and the International Committee of Schools of Social Work) 12:30 P.M, Training and Exchange of Personnel Speakers: Adolphe Delierneux, Assistant Director, Social Activities Division, Department of Social Affairs, United Nations Secretariat, Lake Success, New York. Miss Elinor L, Black, Department of Social Science, Liverpool University, England. Dr. J, M, Kumarappa, Director of Social Economics, Tata Institute of Social Sciences, Byculla, Bombay, India Dean Laura Vergara, Sub Directora de la Escuela de Servicio Social be la Beneficiencial, Santiago, Chile. 2:30 P.M, Discussion and Action on Statements of Principle to Guide Continuing Conference Activity with Respect To: 1. Intergovernmental YJelfare Programs Report of Committee. Discussion 2. International Voluntary Agency Programs Report of Committee. Discussion ■ 3. Role of Social Work in Meeting Post-Wfar Needs Report of Committee. 4. Training and Exchange of Personnel - R.eport of Committee. Discussion* Discussion of Program of Work. Election of Permanent Committee and Officers. Other unfinished business. Closing Address: INTERNATIONAL SOCIAL WORK RISES TO ITS OPPORTUNITIES. Speaker: International Conference President for Ensuing Year. Adjournment. 4 HALLYI1TG POINT FOR THE WORLD KATHRYN CLOSE (The Survey Midmonthly. May 1948) What are the responsibilities of social workers in a troubled world? This was the unformulated question that brought 200 social workers from 35 countries together last month for the Fourth International Conference of Social Work* Meeting in Atlantic City, April 17*-22, find in New York, April 24-25, This first world conclave ofsocial workers to be held in twelve years spread its cosmopolitan flavor to the neighboring Seventy- Fifth Anniversary Meeting of tho National Conference of Social Work, with which some of its Atlantic City sessions wore entwined. Back in 1936, when the Third International Conference of Social Work met in London, social workers were only beginning to recognize signs of the havoc that lay ahead. Worldwide catastrophe came before four years were outand dislocated plans for tho next quadrennicl meeting. Now twice as many years again had passed and tho world was still shaking. Could social workers take any part in creating stability? Orientals and Occidentals, North Americans and South Americans, Europeans and Africans presented testimony that they must. Yet, this was not just a conference of fine phrases. On the contrary, it wasgsared'directly to the practical. It had been conceived by men who believed that the achievement of ideals depends on sound knowledge of reality best attained through an interchange of experience with other persons grappling with individual and social problems. Such a man was Howard R, Knight, the late secretary general, who died last October in the midst of efforts to recreate tho International Conference, That plans for this year’s meeting were carried on in spite of this loss was duo to determination on the part of the Conference’s President, Dr, Rene Sand of Belgium, its Acting Secretary General, Joseph P, Anderson of the United states, the Assistant Secretary G-endral for Europe, H,M,L*H, Sark of the Netherlands, the Treasurer, G-eorgo E, Haynes of England, and members of tho Executive Committee, This was a conference in which almost everyone present participated. Being essentially a delegate conference, but including also official observers, and visitors, it had an advantage of smallness. While more free discussion could perhaps have been hoped for from the round-tables, numerous social functions offered opportunity for conference attendants to become acquainted and to pursue specific questions not answered in the sessions. In the round-tables and general sessions the social workers told of conditions in their countries and of measures being taken to moot them. They bore witness to the fact that the problems which face social workers arc much tho same the world over, with variations in degree and Inclosure #2 1 intensity* They also revealed’differences in method and approach necessitated by differences in cultural traditions or in economic or social conditions. They "brought evidence .too of differences in trends, particularly on opposite sides of the Atlantic for stories indicated that while social workers in the United States have 120001116 all hut preoccupied with the techniques of Individual treatment, European social workers have 'been participating in the development of great mass programs designed to meet the ‘basic needs of. everyone.. ... PROGRAMS IS 0TH3R COUNTRIES A large part of the conferenced attention w«s devoted to problems of rehabilitating war-devastated countries, yet littleindication was forth- coming that these countries were waiting to have every thing done for them. A note of optimism was struck by the conferenced President, Dr. Reno Sand, at a joint general session with the National Conference in which he described conditions and programs in Belgium, Prance and the Netherlands. In spite of the setback of the war, the Belgian doctor maintained, social conditions, in these three countries have advanced greatly in the past generation. He credited the advances largely to social programs instituted before the war and backed in the main by legislation, among them systems of social insurance and family allowances. Wartime and postwar efforts .to regulate prices, wages, and‘rents as well- as production, importation, -and distribution of goods, have helped to maintain living conditions, he said. . - . v . ■ - Housing represents the worst social condition in all throe countries. Dr* Sand pointed out, building costs aro greatly reduced by the use of-mass construction and standardization of materials,1’ he , : predicted, ’’the housing problem will remain unsolved,” • However, he saw hope for Western Europe in a developing social policy based on. three wells of defense against social evils; Preventive measures, social security and public and private welfare services using both casework and methods, . Speaking of the ”now look in Britain,” George E, Haynes of London remarked that the groat problem there at the present time is ”to know where all the cloth is. to como from to cut the suits that are being patterned out,” Ho pointed to the Education Apt. of 1944 as one of the biggest educational measures over passed in Great Britain, and described the recently instituted health services and the comprehensive national insurance program as other outstanding steps t oward social * improvement in Great Britain, A controversy over the voluntary hospitals* reluctance to bo drawn into the health scheme has died down, Mr, Haynes maintained, indi- cating that social workers had played an important part in convincing the public thafl the step was necessary ”to got anything like equal hospital treatment throughout the country.11 However, he pointed out that a controversy now rages over the plan to bring medical men together in one general practitioner service. Britain1s national insurance program, "by providing for children1s allowances, widows1 allowances, old age pensions, death benefits and funeral expenses, establishes a poverty lino below which none shall bo allowed to fall,*' Mr, Haynes declared, adding that voluntary bodies are being used as instruments to help, carry out the government schemes. Every conference produces a speaker who bewitches his audience with the conviction and sincerity in his voice and who becomes a favorite subject of conversation. At this conference it was J, M, Kumarappa from Bombay, India, who described the social problems of a country whoso population of 389,000,000 is ”grcater than the combined populations of all of North and South Americas and Africa,” lie explained that the Indian Joint family system, which used to take care of the people in need, began to disintegrate with the impact of industrialism and the introduction of western education, and maintained that because India is still 85 per cent rural, the solution to her problem of mass poverty lies in revitalization of her 700,000 villages. Next to a wider distribution of wealth, India's greatest need, accord- ing to Dr, Kumarappa, -is bettor health. Ho told of a planned forty-year program to provide the people with medical and public health services, India's third great need, he said, is the liquidation of illiteracy. But ho maintained that in achieving this aim Indians must go back to their own. culture and create their future ”in line with their past.” The last need for India, Dr. Kumarappa, is peace, on which depends the fulfillment of all other needs. Briefer pictures of programs and needs in other countries were produced in the International Conference's round-tables. There the discussions showed that while social workers from everywhere recognize the value of the individualized approach, in many countries the presence of actual physical want is so widespread that efforts to improve the lot of the masses through social security, housing, and health measures take precedence over services for individual and family adjustment* That I$dia was such a country. Dr- Kumarappa had already, indicated, and compatriot, J, E, Julsare, who spoke of the need of health and education services in rural communities and of housing needs in the cities. Ho pointed out that Bombay has an average of seven persons per room, and an average of eleven square feet of indoor space per person. However, the local government has launched a long' range housing program with the ultimate goal of 250,000 dwelling units, Ho country in the world is in a.position to say it has enough good, commodious housing for- all its citizens, maintained 35 r, Buis are. Representatives from Groat the Philippines, Fhanco, Germany and'Finland gave evidence of housing conditions in their countries that would lend weight to his contention. Of these countries, only Great Britain seems to have worked out a large scale program for attacking the problem, Richard Clements, Secretary of the London County Council, told of plans for rebuilding the devastated areas of London, covering the natural communities, but creating groups of beautified neighborhood units. The need for greater development of social programs for people in rural areas emerged clearly in the discus-sions. Though social work as described by almost all the conference participants had an urban origin, the point was stressed that social conditions in rural communities are often worse than they' are in the city. Li An-chc of China was canother who disapproved of the introduction of western industrialization to the East, "I*m not quite sure whether the highly developed social work skill in urban areas is something to be proud of," he said. The family and tribal system in China is breaking, ho*-asserted, and the government-has been unable to carry out'its substitute social program because of lack of "proper analysis or Western civilization in Egypt, on the other hand, docs not greatly affect the people of rural areas, according to Muhammes Shalaby, Though little was done to raise the standard of living in these areas until after freedom was achieved from the British,’he declared, the government has since established a Department of Peasants, which in cooperation with -,a voluntary society sends social workers, health workers, and doctors to the villages. Representatives from France and India spoke of the difficulty of getting city social.workers to go to the country, and of the need for some method for-training rural persons in'social work* Other discussions revealed that in many countries voluntary agencies play an experimental and a supplementary role,,$hilc government is relied upon to meet the basic welfare needs of the country, " In Poland, according to Colina Barska, the government cooperates with private agencies in caring for 1,500,000 war orphans, •- v 4 In Egypt# a pattern of government subsidy to privately operated welfare programs has been devised, according to Yehia Darwish. The government, however, has the right to supervise the programs and to insist on the use of professionally trained personnel. In China, said C, A, Chiang, the government has taken over many programs begun by private groups, including the medical and health work introduced by missionaries. But personnel difficulties have ensued because their administration is ”still in the hands of privileged groups.” Similarly, in Lebanon most of the social services were begun by private organization of other nationalities, explained Jamal K, Harfouchc, The present government is establishing a welfare department and is ”very conscious of the need for fact-finding and personnel training,” In Chile, on the other hand, few private welfare services exist, according to Maria E, Huneeus, A comprehensive social security program which covers every worker and family in the country is ”absolutely accepted” because it is the ”only protection for workers in a poverty-stricken country.” At all these meetings, the term Hsocial work” remained undefined. Obviously, its meaning was not the same to all. In Poland, for instance, as Oscar Langer pointed out, ”social work” includes the provision of education to rural children. In Western European countries it is apt to bo so clearly allied to public health that the family visitor is something of a combination of caseworker and nurse. In India, it is tied in with labor welfare. There was abundant evidence, however, of a growing effort to administer mass measures with an individualized approach. This concept, said Janina Suchodolska, is still recognized in Poland, although ”war and largo scale disasters have made mass programs a necessity.” INTERNATIONAL SOCIAL WOHK The word ”international” in the conferenced name seemed to have two meanings. For the conference not only provided an opportunity for persons of various nationalities to meet and exchange experiences: It also brought them together with representatives of inter-governmental or voluntary, worldwide social welfare programs, especially those connected with the United Nations, Moreover, special arrangements were made for delegates to attend the UN sessions at Lake Success and to meet with members of the secretariat. The reason the conference moved to New York for its last two days was to make the UN headquarters more accessible to the delegates and the conference more accessible to United Nations personnel. 5 Two joint general sessions with the National Conference «t Atlantic City wore devoted to expositions of the programs of international agencies the World Health Organization, the Preparatory Commission of the International Befugco Organization, the’International Children1s Emergency Fund, the International Labour Organization, end the UN1s Social Commission; while two of the featured speakers at Hew York came from the'Division of Social Activities, Department of Social Affaire, United Nations, The Social Commission represents "the conviction of governments that social progress ranks on an equal basis with economic considerations as a factor in the maintenance of peace,11 said George F, Davidson, Canada*s representative on the commission, 3o pointed out that in spite of the political deadlocks within the UN it has been possible in the social welfare field to got the cooperative effort of all nations directed to a common purpose* The commission’s major*responsibilities, according to Dr, Davidson ares To advise UN*s Economic and Social Council on social measures of a general character and ,on practica3 natters in the social field; and to report on the extent to which UN social recommendations arc being carried out. Sir Raphael Cilento, Director of the Drvision of Social Activities,' told of the division*s work in sotting up a yearJs social welfare program for the UN, This includes the following priorities; Social Welfare Services generally involving the continued operation of the International Children*s Emergency Fund and the provision of fellowships, consultants, films, text- books, and seminars in social welfare* Theprevcntlon of crime and treatment of offenders particularly gathering information and setting up study committees: Allocation of responsibilities in the field of migration with separation of the problem of displaced persons; Prevention of traffic in women and children and in obscene literature first revising a draft convention originally drawn up by the-League of Nations: Allocation of responsibility for the solution of the housing problem to be referred to domestic action for solution: Improvement. of standards of living especially the study of social surveys as a method of qualitative analysis, 4 " The program of the International Labour Organization, w°s described by Daniel Gerig of the International Labour Office in Montreal, Ho main- tained that the ILO has1 bent * special efforts to further social insurance and assistance programs, to promote International standards for healthy and safe working conditions, and to encourage the establishment of comprehensive public health services or medical insurance programs. The United States is not among the 61 nations which have formerly, joined the World Health Organization,, pointed out Dr, William P, Forrest, WHO’s Assistant Director, He told of the unique power which WHO’s annual health assembly has in the international field the power of adopting regulations which shall come into force for all member states except those registering rejections or reservations within a specified period, thus the delays of ratification. The specific areas involved concern sanitary and quarantine requirements, nomenclature ot disease and causes of death, and standards with respect to biological and pharmaceutical preparations. WHO's present priorities, Dr. Forrest explained, include; The control of malaria; a campaign td prevent the spread of tuberculosis; a campaign against venereal disease; promotion of maternal and child health programs. "Milk and fats represent the greatest needs of children in Europe," said Ludwik Eajchman, Chairman of the Executive of the International Children1s Emergency Fund, in describing the Eund!s operations. Limited resources have prcventec this temporary agency from providing supplementary meals for more than 4.Of 0,000 of the estimated 87,000,000 children needing assistance in war devastated countries, he said. Speaking of the role of voluntary effort in the field of international relief and rehabilitation, George Haynes named seven responsibilities which should be faced by world wide organizations: (l) to rebuild the shattered units of their own organizations; (2) to work through indigenous bodies in their countries of operation; (3) to limit iheir functions in recognition that they arc not "universal providers";' (4) to establish more effective coordination among themselves; (5) to improve their personnel; (6) to direct their work simply and purely to serving our common humanity; (7) to avoid temptations to acquire power for its own sake. Martha H. Bichle of the staff of the Preparatory Commission of the International Refugee Organization spoke of the Commission's efforts toward re-sottlemont of Eui*opo's displaced persons, 'and of the agreements made with several countrios willing to take them in. She asked social workers of countries receiving DP's to help bring about their easy assimilation, by finding irays of providing, services which a new immigrant night need — "cash to carry him until wages arc received, adequate clothing for certain jobs, medical attention in case of accident, schools for the children, language classes for the adults," Miss Biehlo's point was re-emnhasized at a round—table session when H, L. M, H, Sark, of the Netherlands told of how national and loed re-sottloment committee; have been set up in his country to help in the establishment of special labor groups which have been brought into the country under arrangemoj.it with PCIRO, Housing difficulties make it necessary for many governments to limit entry to unattached persons, Dr. Sark maintained, but "i?rom the DP's point of view it is best to keep families together," At the same round-table, M, Lotty Harford of England stressed the re- sponsibility of individuals for extending hospitality to newly arrived DP's. ACTION AMD TRAINING* Throughout the.conference the social workers responded enthusiastically to speakers who translated their human *nd orofossional concern ft the well-being of mankind into terms of action, or at least into positive attitudes which might ho used as direction finders through clouds of political confusion. One such was Donald S, Howard, President *of the American Association of Social Workers, who spoke at a joint meeting of the Association and the conference. Mr Howard maintained international action, ”geared to the circumstances and cultures of individual countries,” is required to .attain the goals of economic security, health, education, housing, and individual and family adjustment, on which the well-being of people depends. . ”0ur skill is not just the skill of direct service,” he asserted, ”hut also a technique of arousing public opinion end of getting other professionals, doctors, psychiatrists, vocational counselors andthe like, to render their services.” He pointed out that the social worker must see the world community whole and bring others together to meet its needs. Bub he added that international, action is ’’cooperative action” and does not suggest action inside another countiy except through the government of that country. ”There are no giving and no receiving nations'” Mr, Howard declared. ”Thc slogan 1 Everybody gives and everybody benefits1 could apply on an internationel as well as a. community basis,” He maintained relief and welfare must be exempt from politics for ”no nation has all the answers.” Another speaker who stressed the importance of international social action was Adolphe Doliorneux, Assistant Director ,of TJH*s Social Activities Division, At a luncheon in How York he predicted that if man spent as much effort toward resolving the problems of his structure and environment as ho docs in”oxtracting secrets from nature” the world would progress toward a happy society, „Hc pleaded with social workers to ,!keop their eyes on the stars” while becoming as well equipped as eossiblc for their day-to-day jobs. Mr, Deliernoux explained that the DH Secretariat has been studying the possibility of a long tern program of training for social workers* ‘He ‘ pointed to three professional needs: An international definition of social work; an international terminology; an evaluation of content and opportuni- ties for training. Concern over content and opportunities for training, which kept cropping up throughout the conference, was the main focus at the luncheon at which Mr, Deliernoux spoke and-at which four other persons gave pictures of the •training facilities in their countries, v ’’ Basic training for the United Kingdom is on an undergraduate level, though postgraduate courses'are availahle in specialities, explained Elinor I, Black Of England, uNoxt to matrimony,’1 the fields to draw off the largest proportion of social work students in Groat'Britain arc: Industrial welfare; .medical social service; youth work; psychiatric social work; probation. •<; Lotty Harford assorted that experioments in exchange of teachers be- tween Groat Britain arid the United States produced a cross fertilization of ideas and experiences; objectivity and regard to thework of one's own country; personal understanding. - ■J* M* Kumarappa described the Tata Institute of Social Sciences, the only social work school in India, as a postgraduate institution offering two and a half years of training to students from all over tho country - ”touchablos,. untouchables, Hindus, and Moslems,H Its aim, ho maintained, is to "make tho social worker think to pr ovide the leadership that the country needs,” Pointing out that the,school emphasires the social work function of finding needs and the organisation responsible for meeting them, he told of current efforts' to get tho Indian railroads to provide a travelers aid service. Jun Guera of Brazil pecounted tho difficulties of attracting students to the fifteen schools of social work in her country because of the low salaries offered in the profession. She said the schools were-faced with the choico of allowing young inexperienced graduaters to take on responshile jobs or leave them to untrained persons. BUSINESS MD ORGANIZATION Not all the time of the conference, could be scheduled for discussions of social work problems and methods for this was, after all, a rebirth of an organization, calling for a great deal of official business. Important parts of this were the resetting of structure, tho laying down of procedures for the future, »nd tho election of officers and an executive committee. These wore the concerns that occupied the major portion’ of the two days of meetings in New York, There one caught' a senao of the amount of work that had.gone into convening this year's conference, ‘Three successful conferences had met previously - at Paris in 1928,,at Frankfurt In 1932, at- london in 1936 - but the war had shattered the organization as well as its financial records. To Howard H, Knight, the lamented Secretary General, belonged most of tho credit for its revival, as every conference leader testified. He had worked indcfatigably to stimulate the establishment of national committees to.choose delegates and observers for the conference. His foundation made it possible for the conferenced temporary executive board, chosen at an organizing meeting in Brussels more than a. year ago, to continue plans for the conferenced convention this year. By the time the conference met, twenty countries had national committees which were able to send two officia3 delegates to Atlantic City and NowYork, while fifteen others were represented by official observers or visitors. All registered members of the conference were eligible to attend the business meetings in Now York, but only the delegates were allowed to vote. At those meetings working committees presented a draft constitution, a slato of proposed officers and executive committeemen and statements of principle on international welfare agencies, the role of social work in mooting postwar needs and training and exchange of personnel. 'The constitution was adopted in principle and referred to the executive committee for final polishing. Thus the conference now has a blueprint of its machinery. The main parts of this structure are: 1, Memberships open to any individual or organization sympathetic with the conference1s activities and objectives, 2, National committees to be set up in each country where there arc members of the conference. 3, A permanent committee consisting of at least two delegates firm each national committee, but with each country limited to one vote, 4, An executive committee, consisting of 21 members elected by the permanent committee, to meet at least once a year. 5, A secretariat consisting of a secretary general and whatever assistant secretaries general might be deemed necessary. 6, A general meeting of the membership to be called by the executive committee. The constitution states the purpose of the conference to be ”an international forum for the discussion of social work and related issues,’1 which is”non~political, non-governmental and non-scctarian and docs not undert ake activities of an operational nature.” However, it leaves the way open for consultation service to theUnited Nations through a second purpose which is ”to stimulate and promote international social work and to facilitate cooperation between all international organizations related to the field of social welfare and particularly between these organizations, and the United Nations, its subdivisions, and its various specialized agencies,” Following the adoption of the constitution now ''officers were elected. They include: Honorary President, Dr, Rene Sand of Belgium; President, George B, Haynes of Great Britain; Vice Presidents, Fred K, Hoehler, USA; J, M, Kumar appa, India; H, M. L. H, Sark, the Netherlands; F. H, Rowe, Australia; and C, A, Chiang, China. A vacancy was left for a vice president from South America who is to be chosen later by the executive committee. The new Treasurer is W, H, Dewar of Canada. The conference agreed that the secretary general be the same person as the secretary of the American National Committee, a. position to be automatically filled by the secretary of the National Conference of Social Work, The now Assistant Secretary General for Europe is Miss I. de Hurtardo of Franco, In addition to the officers the executive committee includes repre- sentatives from Denmark, Franco, Italy, Switzerland, South Africa, Great Britain, the United States and Canada, Two places allocated to Latin American countries and one for the Middle East have not yet been filled. In addition, two vacancies are to be reserved for Eastern European countries and three for othercountrics in which national committees have not yet been formed. International voluntary agencies arc to be invited to send representatives to executive committee meetings as observers. ”Our conference should make social work a rallying point for the world,” said Dr, Sand, in handing over the gavel of office to the new president. He suggested that the national committees could ”stimulate the kind of social work unity in other countries that now exists in the United States and Groat Britain.” A warm ovation was given Dr, Sand in recognition of his twenty years of service to the conference. One of its instigators, ho was secretary general for its first three meetings. In addition, he has managed in a distinguished career to combine medicine and social work into a profession, of ”social medicine”. Founder of the Belgian Association for Social Medicine, ho served in the Belgian Red Cross during the First World War end later became secretary of the League of Red Cross Societies, In 1936, he was made secretary general of newly created Ministry of Health and Social Welfare, and continued in this capacity until deposed and taken hostage by the Nazis, He is now professor of social medicine at the University of Brussels, ”Wherever Dr, Sand has been,” said the new conference President, George Haynes, in accepting the ”he has brought that understanding that always transcends nationalities.” Mr, Haynes said he had met only two men in his life whom he recorded as citizens of the world - one was the Scandinavian Fridtjof Hansen, and the other Dr. Sand. • As one who worked strenuously to produce this:Fourth International Conference of Social Work, Mr, Haynes might have looked on himself as a promising candidate for world citizenship. In closing the conference, ho told of how as. a young scientist ho had'turned to teaching ”on a very dark side of Liverpool” "because