International Federation of Trade Unions

All delegations at the 1919 congress were Europeans, except the [[American Federation of Labor]]. However, the AFL delegate [[Samuel Gompers]] participated with a mandate from the [[Pan-American Federation of Labor]]. The only major industrial country absent was [[Italy]], whose delegates encountered passport problems.

All delegations at the 1919 congress were Europeans, except the [[American Federation of Labor]]. However, the AFL delegate [[Samuel Gompers]] participated with a mandate from the [[Pan-American Federation of Labor]]. The only major industrial country absent was [[Italy]], whose delegates encountered passport problems.

In the refounded IFTU the general principle was that only one national centre per country would be admitted. However, at the founding congress there were exceptions. The British delegation consisted of both [[Trade Union Congress|TUC]] and [[General Federation of Trade Unions (UK)|GFTU]] representatives. From [[Germany]] and the [[Netherlands]] both [[Social Democracy|Social Democratic]] (GGWD and [[Dutch Confederation of Trade Unions|NVV]]) and [[Syndicalism|Syndicalist]] (VDGW and NAS) trade unions participated.{{harvnb|Goethem|2006|pp=24–25}}

In the refounded IFTU the general principle was that only one national centre per country would be admitted. However, at the founding congress there were exceptions. The British delegation consisted of both [[Trades Union Congress|TUC]] and [[General Federation of Trade Unions (UK)|GFTU]] representatives. From [[Germany]] and the [[Netherlands]] both [[Social Democracy|Social Democratic]] (GGWD and [[Dutch Confederation of Trade Unions|NVV]]) and [[Syndicalism|Syndicalist]] (VDGW and NAS) trade unions participated.{{harvnb|Goethem|2006|pp=24–25}}

At the congress there were two candidates for the presidency of IFTU. The Briton [[W. A. Appleton]] was elected with 31 votes against 18 for the Dutchman [[Jan Oudegeest]]. Appleton had been nominated by Samuel Gompers whilst Oudegeest had been nominated by [[Arvid Thorberg]]. Two vice-presidents were also elected. In the election for the first vice-president the German [[Carl Legien]] was defeated by the Frenchman [[Léon Jouhaux]]. The defeat of the German candidate could be seen as an indication that many trade unionists in the former [[Allies of World War I|Allied countries]] were suspicious of the Germans, who had dominated the international labour movement before the war. Following Legien's defeat, the German and Austrian delegations abstained from nominating candidates for the second vice-president. The Belgian Cornel Mertens was elected to the position. Jan Oudegeest and fellow Dutchman [[Edo Fimmen]] were elected general secretaries.{{harvnb|Goethem|2006|p=26}}

At the congress there were two candidates for the presidency of IFTU. The Briton [[W. A. Appleton]] was elected with 31 votes against 18 for the Dutchman [[Jan Oudegeest]]. Appleton had been nominated by Samuel Gompers whilst Oudegeest had been nominated by [[Arvid Thorberg]]. Two vice-presidents were also elected. In the election for the first vice-president the German [[Carl Legien]] was defeated by the Frenchman [[Léon Jouhaux]]. The defeat of the German candidate could be seen as an indication that many trade unionists in the former [[Allies of World War I|Allied countries]] were suspicious of the Germans, who had dominated the international labour movement before the war. Following Legien's defeat, the German and Austrian delegations abstained from nominating candidates for the second vice-president. The Belgian Cornel Mertens was elected to the position. Jan Oudegeest and fellow Dutchman [[Edo Fimmen]] were elected general secretaries.{{harvnb|Goethem|2006|p=26}}