400 J.-A. PEMBERTON
Later at the conference and in the midst of a discussion on the
future of dependent areas, the American group took up this proposal.
They urged the view that the United Nations should issue a declaration
‘denouncing the doctrine of master races and stressing the equality of
all people.’^210 Against this background, a committee was appointed and
given the task of drafting a preliminary statement. In accordance with
conference procedures, the statement prepared by the committee, which
took the form of a memorandum, was not put forward for either adop-
tion or rejection by the conference but was treated as a supplement to
the conference agenda.
The statement...welcomed the international concern shown in problems
of human rights by the UN Declaration of Jan 1, 1942, the Philadelphia
Recommendation of the ILO, and the Dumbarton Oaks proposals. It
rejected the claims of “master races” to an inherent superiority entitling
them to rule or guard over other races or peoples. It proclaimed the fun-
damental equality of all peoples and pledged the United nations to unceas-
ing efforts to enable all peoples to enjoy the benefits of that equality. It
announced the principle of universal international accountability for colo-
nial and dependent peoples and for all peoples or groups within any coun-
try who do not possess full social, economic and political rights.^211In discussing cultural and race relations, the conference found itself in
full agreement on the need to address forms of discrimination which had
their roots in racial and cultural differences and at a number of different
levels. Seeking to place the focus of the discussion on colonial policy, an
Indian member offered the view that putting an end to political domina-
tion would go a long way towards eliminating racial cultural prejudices.
This view was challenged by other members who insisted that political
domination was but one manifestation of such prejudices. Indeed, the
(^210) Ibid., 93.
(^211) Ibid., 93–4. On May 10, 1944, the General Conference of the ILO meeting at its
twenty-sixth conference in Philadelphia issued a declaration concerning the aims and pur-
poses of the ILO. Among other things, the conference affirmed the following: ‘all human
beings, irrespective of race, creed or sex, have the right to pursue both their material
well-being and their spiritual development in conditions of freedom and dignity, of eco-
nomic security and equal opportunity’. ILO Declaration of Philadelphia: Declaration
Concerning the Aims and Purposes of the International Labour Organisation, ILOdec
philadephia.pdf.