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52 Women Law. J. 10 (1966)
The White House Conference on International Cooperation

handle is hein.journals/wolj52 and id is 10 raw text is: The White House Conference on International Cooperation November 28 - December I, 1965 - Washington, D. C. By. JUDGE MATTIE BELLE DAVIS* 1965 4, 1965 was designated as International Cooperation Year by the United Na- tions General Assembly to commemo- rate the 20th Anniversary of the UN and to focus public attention on the extent and significance of international cooperation among nations rather than on the conflicts that divide them. On October 2, 1964, President Johnson pro- claimed 1965 to be International Co- operation Year, and announced his in- tention to call a White House Confer- ence to search and explore and can- vass and thoroughly discuss every con- ceivable approach and avenue of coop- eration that could lead to peace. The President called this the assignment of the century. In his last speech before the United Nations General Assembly on November 10, 1961, the late Prime Minister Jawa- harlal Nehru of India suggested the need for emphasis to be placed on the cooperating elements in the world to- day and we were made to think that the world depends on cooperation and not on conflict. This idea grew into a resolution adopted by the General As- sembly on December 19, 1962, endors- ing the idea, followed by a resolution in 1963 designating 1965 as Interna- tional Cooperation Year. President Johnson issued invitations to representatives of various organiza- tions and individuals from all parts of the country and representing every sphere of labor and interest to the White House Conference on Interna- tional Cooperation, November 28 through December 1, 1965. Approxi- *NAWL President; Judge, Metropolitan Dade County Court, Miami, Florida. 10 WOMEN LAWYERS JOURNAL mately 2,000 attended the Conference or some of its sessions. To prepare for the Conference, Presi- dent Johnson early in 1965 created a Cabinet Committee on International Co- operation, representing 22 agencies and departments of the Government, under the chairmanship of the Assistant Secre- tary of State for International Affairs, Harlan Cleveland, and later his succes- sor, Assistant Secretary Joseph J. Sisco. A National Citizens' Commission on In- ternational Cooperation, composed of non-Government leaders in the aca- demic, professional and business worlds, under the chairmanship of Robert S. Benjamin, was appointed and brought together by the United Nations Associ- ation of the U.S.A. In consultation with the Cabinet Committee and other Gov- ernment officials, the Citizens' Commis- sion formed 30 working committees to deal with different areas of internation- al cooperation and to prepare reports to meet the President's request for the useful review of the present status of international cooperation in various areas and for specific recommendations for the next steps to strengthen inter- national cooperation. The Conference opened Sunday eve- ning, November 28, with a welcoming program and a short musical program in the Department of State Auditorium. Proceeding from the Auditorium, the conferees enjoyed a delightful reception in the beautiful Diplomatic Reception Rooms of the Department of State, where many had the opportunity to be greeted informally and talk with Secre- tary of State Dean Rusk and Mrs. Rusk and other representatives of the Depart- ment of State. Opening Plenary Session Vice-President Hubert H. Humphrey addressed the opening plenary session of the Conference on Monday morning, November 29, in the Sheraton Park Ho- tel, and said we must develop new