Conclusion

Abstract

By the end of the 1960s, the optimism which had inspired the ILO at the beginning of the Technical Assistance Programme had evaporated. Maintaining a functioning organization throughout the era of decolonization had required a fair number of compromises, something which not even the series of festivities that preceded the end of David Morse’s last term in office could disguise. In 1969 the Organization celebrated the 50th anniversary of its foundation, and the 25th anniversary of the Declaration of Philadelphia. That same year Morse was invited to accept the Nobel Peace Prize on behalf of the ILO, the crowning glory of a 22-year epoch during which he had left an indelible mark on the Organization. For a while, the celebrations and the honours bestowed on the ILO bathed it in such a positive light that its problems temporarily faded into the background.